International Institute of Fisheries Economics & Trade Conference 2024

The 21st IIFET Conference will be held from July 15 to 19, 2024, in Penang, Malaysia. This edition of the biennial conference, organized by WorldFish and Malaysia's Department of Fisheries, will be held in Asia for the first time since 2008.

This year's theme, "Aquatic Food Systems in the Blue Economy," focuses on the intersection of fisheries and aquaculture economics and trade with major global challenges we are facing today, such as food system sustainability, rising economic and social inequality, the climate crisis, and the fallout from COVID-19, along with the possibility of future pandemics. These issues are all pertinent to shaping a resilient blue economy that delivers on its promise for healthy people, a healthy planet, and shared prosperity.

IIFET 2024 will offer attendees a unique space for sharing ideas and dialogue at the cutting edge of sustainable and equitable economic development through the lens of aquatic foods.

IISD's Co-organized Session

Regenerative Aquaculture: Economics and policy panel discussion

• Co-organized with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and WorldFish
• July 16, 2024, 15:30–17:00 MYT, Room 9 (Wembley Hotel)

Aquaculture faces changing consumer pressures, volatile geopolitics affecting trade, and regulatory challenges. The sector must also adapt to climate change, reduce emissions, produce nutritious foods, and provide decent work, especially for women and youth in coastal communities—all while offering significant business growth opportunities.

Can aquaculture be nature-positive and inclusive and still meet the demand for nutritious food at affordable prices? What are the production potentials, profitability, required incentive mechanisms, and costs of transition to nature-based or regenerative aquaculture?

The objective of the session is to address these issues and seek solution pathways. We welcome robust debate on what policy actions are needed to achieve such transitions in the Asia–Pacific region. This session is supported by the Nature-based Climate Solutions in Aquaculture Food Systems in Asia-Pacific (AQUADAPT) program, funded by IDRC and the Government of Canada.

Speakers

Moderator

• Eddie Allison, Principal Scientist, WorldFish

Panel

• Mélanie Robertson, Senior Program Specialist, Climate Resilient Food Systems, IDRC
• Nikita Gopal, Senior Scientist, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, and Chair of the Gender in Aquaculture and Fisheries Section of Asian Fisheries Society
• Ling Cao, Associate Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• Justin Hunter, CEO, J. Hunter Pearls
• Victor Nikijuluw, Senior Ocean Program Advisor, Konservasi Indonesia
• Andrew Ng, Director of Business Development, HJT Foods Sdn. Bhd.
• Prashneel Chandra, Fisheries Officer, Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji

Find out more about the conference and sign up here.