Preliminary summary of the outcomes of the Fish for All Summit, November 3, 2002, Penang, Malaysia

Summary of Plenary Panel Session Nearly 300 participants from over 40 countries and including fisheries specialists, development assistance experts, fishers organizations, civil society representatives, and several government fisheries ministers from Asia and Africa concluded a one day Summit called 'Fish for All' in Penang this week (3 November). The Summit concluded that, given the many benefits of wholesome food, livelihoods and environments that are based on fish and other aquatic life, all people should embrace the vision of 'Fish for All forever'.

However, the Summit discussions highlighted the challenges the world faced to achieve this vision. Basically, many poor coastal, lake and river-based communities and even the urban poor are losing their access to fish as prices rise with increasing demand. The WorldFish Center, which is coordinating the just-launched Fish for All Initiative, and other interested agencies will be developing and refining an action agenda to build on the Summit outcomes. The Global Steering Committee of Fish for All, chaired by Professor M.S. Swaminathan, a World Food Prize winner, will be advising how to bring fish access issues to the attention of decision makers and the public...

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