From March 17 to 20, the First FAO-CFA Joint International Conference on Sustainable Aquaculture, jointly organized by the China Fisheries Association (CFA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), was held in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. As a co-organizer, Ocean University of China (OUC) was deeply involved in the preparation and organization of the conference and, on March 17, co-hosted with FAO the thematic side event of “AI promotes sustainable development in fisheries and aquaculture”. Professor Liu Yong, Vice President of OUC, attended the events and delivered remarks. Academician Bao Zhenmin chaired the keynote speech session of the conference, while Academician Xue Changhu chaired the panel discussion on “Partnerships and Investment to Scale up Implementation of the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture”.
In his remarks, Vice President Liu Yong welcomed the participants on behalf of the university and expressed appreciation for the support of FAO and CFA. He noted that OUC has long been committed to promoting scientific and technological innovation in fisheries and aquaculture, achieving fruitful results in areas such as improved breed development, disease prevention and control, green feed, and deep-sea and far-sea aquaculture. He added that OUC is ready to work with partner institutions to explore innovative pathways for empowering the blue granary through AI technologies.
Yuan Xinhua, Deputy Director of the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI), attended the side event and delivered remarks. He spoke highly of China’s active exploration in the digitalization of fisheries and aquaculture, expressing the hope that the event would serve as a platform for deepening global exchanges and cooperation in AI-promoted development in fisheries and aquaculture.
More than 50 experts and scholars from institutions including Ghent University, The University of Tasmania, and the African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as the quantifiable value of AI technologies, green production enablement, and the translation of research findings into practice. In her closing remarks, Wang Yumei, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, said that this side event had brought together global expertise and laid a solid foundation for AI-promoted sustainable development in fisheries and aquaculture.
Under the theme “Cooperation for Sustainable Development”, the conference brought together over 800 representatives from over 30 countries and regions. Participants came from government agencies, regional cooperation organizations, research institutes, universities, business associations, leading enterprises, and financial institutions. Since signing an MOU with FAO in June 2025, OUC has continued to advance practical cooperation with the organization. Co-organizing the conference and co-hosting the thematic side event represent concrete steps in strengthening strategic cooperation. These efforts showcased OUC’s innovative research in fisheries and aquaculture, building a bridge for global scientific and technological exchange in these fields.
