Útskrift úr Sjávarútvegsskóla Háskóla Sameinuðu þjóðanna

Hon. Mr. Einar K. Guðfinnsson

At the graduation ceremony of the

United Nations University Fisheries Training Programme

6 March 2007

Dear UNU-fellows, ladies and gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to be present here today at this 9th graduation of the United Nation University Fisheries Training Program.  The UNU itself was established in 1975 and from the beginning we in Iceland were interested in its mandate and have actively supported it. First through the establishment of the UNU Geothermal Training Programme in 1978 and later through the establishment of the UNU Fisheries Training Programme twenty years later, in 1998.  Both programmes started out small, but have now around 20 fellows per year and both programmes support a number of other training activities, both short and long term.  They organise workshops, conferences and short courses, usually in cooperation with partners involving former fellows and also in cooperation with other organisations. 

Fisheries are of considerable importance globally, not least in developing countries.   Although there has not been much growth in capture fisheries in the last quarter of a century or so, there has been a considerable growth in the supply of fish. The increase can mainly be attributed to aquaculture and many Asian countries have been in the forefront of that development.  Other countries, in South America, Africa and elsewhere also have aquaculture high on their agenda. World trade in fisheries has increased substantially and the major supplier of fish on the global markets are developing countries.  Value of exports of fish and fish products from developing countries is now in excess of 20 billion USD per year and now exceeds the combined value of exports of more traditional agricultural commodities, such as coffee, coca, bananas, rubber, sugar and tobacco. But fish is also of prime importance as a source of animal protein for  the human population.  Finally we must not forget the importance fisheries plays as a source of income, not least in developing countries.    

But the expansion of fisheries and aquaculture also comes with a cost.  Many stocks are over-harvested and the environmental impact of aquaculture can be substantial. For us to keep reaping the benefits from fisheries, better management of our resources and better use of raw materials are needed.  We must invest in research and training.  This was the realisation that lead to the establishment of the UNU-FTP almost ten years ago, the need for better resource managment and better utilisation of the catches. 

This is still very topical.  In August last year, I went on an official visit to Namibia.  During that time the UNU-FTP and ICEIDA had organised a three day workshop on the status and development of fisheries in southern and eastern Africa.  Over 70 people attended, local, regional and international experts, as well as lecturers from the UNU-FTP and former UNU-FTP fellows.  Apart from giving lectures and acting as rapporteurs, UNU-FTP fellows also presented posters on the fisheries in their home countries.  They certainly contributed substantially to the success of the workshop. But the message coming from the workshop was clear.  Export of fish and shrimp is of major importance for most of the countries who participated in the workshop, but in majority of cases the managment of the fisheries is weak and there are concerns that the fisheries are not sustainable.  The introduction of right based fisheries and development of aquaculture were seen as measures that should urgently  be taken to avert a crisis and promote further development.

The importance of good fisheries management is not lost on us in Iceland.  The economic developent in our society was based on fisheries and even if the economy is diversifying, fisheries still form the backbone of our export earnings.  In spite of being a small nation of only 300 000 people, we still rank among the world’s leading nations in fisheries and we have received international recognition for our managment of the resources of the sea, our product development and our marketing of fish and fish products.  It was largely because of our status as a fishing nation that the UNU decided to approach Iceland when it was finding a partner to host the UNU-FTP.

We have indeed been pleased with the results of our cooperation with the UNU.  One of the four pillars of our policy in development cooperation published in 2005 is the emphasis on sustainable development, in particular the sustainalbe utilisation of natural resources.  Our strategies are, among others, to strengthen the UNU programmes in Iceland.  Since 2004 we have more than doubled our contributions to the UNU-FTP which this year will be close to 2 million USD.  This is of course reflected in increased and more diverse activities of the UNU-FTP which former fellows are usually a part of. You are now part of the family and we hope that we will be able to continue to nurture and strengthen our bonds and cooperation in the years to come.

Although you came here to study, I hope you will bring back with you memories of other things as well.  For some of you, your first encounter with snow and sub-zero temperatures have been here in Iceland.   To us who live here in Iceland this has been a fairly mild winter so far and we regret that we were not able to give you a sample of a real winter.  Even so some of you should have some strange stories to tell to your children, nieces and nephews on your return back home.  Most of all though, I hope you have been able to use your time here in Iceland well and that you feel it has been worth your while, personally and professionally.  I congratulate you on your achievements and wish you a safe trip home.