1. Small Indigenous Fish Species in Aquaculture: Can They Play a Role in Poverty Alleviation and Food Security Neena Koshy International Collective in Support of Fishworkers

2. THE ISSUE Fish is an important constituent of diet in many countries Growing demand of food fish, reducing rate of capture production and increasing emphasis on aquaculture Aquaculture development should be in a manner that meets food security, employment and environment stability Suppliers of world nutrition tops the list of malnourished countries in the world

3. Small Indigenous Species Rural population depend highly on indigenous species of fish for nutrition. Locally available, more preferred High in nutrition and micronutrients (prescribed to pregnant women, lactating mothers, people with bone and eye ailments) These species are slowly getting extinct due to scientific aquaculture and intensive agricultural practices.

4. Small Indigenous Species in Aquaculture Extensive type of aquaculture involving the small indigenous species in aquaculture, a source of, additional income and additional nutrition to the rural families, incurring no additional cost and is environmentally friendly. ( Eg Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Laos, Viet Nam) These species are quite invisible absent from statistics no documentation of their role as nutrition providers Considered as trash/ weed fish

5. An Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture The recently concluded APFIC meeting on Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries and Aquaculture agreed that an EAF/A is a balanced approach to addressing ecosystem well-being contributing positively to biodiversity, governance and human well-being, including social development and poverty alleviation.

6. Thank you