The Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific
(NACA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
are pleased to make widely available Aquaculture in the Third Millennium,
the Technical Proceedings of the Conference on Aquaculture in the Third
Millennium. It is the third major report from the Conference; the others
are the Bangkok Declaration and Strategy for Aquaculture Development Beyond
2000 that was published in April 2000 and the Report of the Conference,
published in December 2000. As with the previous two reports, these Technical
Proceedings are available on the Websites of NACA and FAO.
Together, the three reports present a potent source of knowledge of the
past, present and future status of world aquaculture, in-depth discussion
of experience and ideas on how to reach the desired goals for the future
of aquaculture, and inspiration to achieve this potential. Preparing and
organizing the Conference was an undertaking buoyed significantly by the
enthusiasm and cooperation that marked everyones efforts and input
on an international scale.
The Conference was held in Bangkok between 20-25 February, 2000, and
generously hosted by the Government of Thailand with major support from
six organizations and agencies whose names and corporate logos appear
on the back cover of this and the previous two publications. In addition
to our official hosts and supporting agencies, many others, too numerous
to mention individually, helped in countless heartwarming ways. We reiterate
our deep appreciation for all the assistance given by each and every person,
group and organization that enabled the Conference to be held successfully,
and are grateful to everyone who took part. Your participation made it
possible to achieve its immediate purpose of launching the pursuit of
the long-term objectives outlined throughout these Technical Proceedings.
Regardless of the length of time it may take to realize our goals for
aquaculture in the third millennium, the journey starts with the first
step. NACA and FAO have taken those initial steps. The day after the Conference,
Asian government representatives to the Governing Council of NACA met
to map the immediate and long-term
Hassanai Kongkeo
Coordinator
Network of Aquaculture Centres in
Asia-Pacific (NACA)
Bangkok
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actions suggested in the Bangkok Declaration
and Strategy. Among the tasks achieved was the formulation of NACAs
Work Programme for 2001-2005, which incorporates salient recommendations
of the Declaration and Strategy. Likewise, FAO convened a meeting at its
regional headquarters in Asia-Pacific immediately after the Conference.
This included aquaculture experts from many parts of the world, who proposed
constitution of a sub-committee on aquaculture within the FAO Committee
on Fisheries (COFI), and outlined ways to implement the Conference recommendations,
particularly those with inter-regional implications.
These modest first steps are intended to pave the way for many more initiatives
to be taken to get the objectives outlined in the Bangkok Strategy on
the road and into the water. In the one-year period
during which these Technical Proceedings were being edited, many more
steps have been initiated. As with the implementation of the Millennium
Conference, NACA and FAO, in cooperation with other concerned organizations,
institutions and agencies, have started to forge ahead to assist aquaculture
stakeholders, especially the governments and people who depend on aquaculture
for their livelihoods, to achieve the social, economic and environmental
sustainability goals embodied in the Bangkok Declaration and Strategy.
Our optimism, that these goals are realistic and attainable, is firmly
founded on the dedication and drive shown by all sectors involved: farmer
cooperatives and agencies, regulators, policymakers and planners, scientists,
workers of non-governmental organizations, and other aquatic resource
users. This optimism is further reinforced by a new wave of international
collaboration, which clearly reflects increased recognition that sustainable
use of our aquatic resources can only be achieved through vigorous and
combined efforts.
These Technical Proceedings reflect this unity of effort. They also emphasize
the openness of communication, singularity of purpose, and wisdom to adapt
to dynamic aquatic systems and social conditions. It will be this flexibility,
guided by principles founded on the common good, that will allow us to
make optimal and sustained use of the aquatic environment, to which we
are linked and on which we, and all who follow us, depend.
Ichiro Nomura
Assistant Director General
Fisheries Department
FAO Rome
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