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The aquaculture sector benefits from UN’s Ukrainian under grain export deal

Rocio Álvarez Jiménez

Presumably, the aquaculture sector will and is experiencing good sensations since the implementation last month of the Black Sea Grain Initiative promoted by the United Nations. The operation is based in Istanbul. The UN reported that it has implemented the UN-brokered deal to resume exports of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea.

This has been motivated by the ongoing conflict and rising food prices worldwide. Senior representatives from Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and the UN have been united through the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC). Therefore, the JCC will enable the safe transportation of commercial foodstuffs and fertilizer. More specifically, from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea: Odessa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhny.

"Together with the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the Secretariat of the United Nations on promoting the access of Russian food products and fertilizers to world markets, it will help reinstate confidence in the global food market. Also, reduce food prices from their current levels," UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, said.

Also, the JCC will monitor the movement of commercial vessels to ensure compliance with the agreement. The priorities are the export of bulk commercial grain and related food commodities. Finally, it will ensure the on-site control and monitoring of cargo from Ukrainian ports and report on shipments facilitated.

What this means to the aquaculture sector

According to a General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) FAO regional study, has potentially grown from 2017 to 2019. In more detail, the amount has increased from 500,000 to over 700,000 tonnes of farmed seafood (mostly salmonoids, carp, and European seabass).

Makes sense that, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and consequently the disruption of the seafood trade and supply chains in the region, aquaculture has severally suffered. About this matter, Ukraine's Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky confirmed to the news agency Reuters that the country's agricultural exports could rise to 6 million-6.5 million tonnes in October. Namely, double the volume in July as its sea ports gradually reopen.