2024 engagements

The first Thematic Youth Assembly consultation, held in July 2024, was organized in collaboration with FAO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Division. It aimed to mobilize youth engagement in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and align efforts with COFI’s initiatives. Key topics included aquaculture’s role in food security, economic development and gender inclusion, as well as challenges such as Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; climate change; and marine plastic pollution.

The second Thematic Youth Assembly consultation, held in October 2024, was built on the first session's discussions. It engaged diverse participants to refine outreach strategies and draft a work plan for a youth constituency focused on aquatic food systems. Objectives included fostering innovation, improving resource access and supporting youth-led governance initiatives.

Key youth priorities that emerged from these engagements included:

• creating a formal youth constituency in fisheries and aquaculture;
• focusing on innovation, capacity-building and inclusive governance;
• raising awareness through campaigns and ecotourism to attract youth engagement;
• securing investment via inclusive financial models and supporting youth entrepreneurship; and
• strengthening partnerships with international organizations to amplify youth contributions.

Tentative 2025–2026 engagements

The engagements for 2025 will begin with a Youth Assembly session, launching the first round of consultations in the lead-up to the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC), which will be held from 9 to 13 June 2025. The first consultation will take place online in May to help set priorities for discussions during UNOC.

This will be followed by a call for the Youth Constituency which will have a defined mandate and will be managed by a coordination group.

The UNOC will provide a platform for another round of consultations, the collective outcomes of which will be presented at the WFF flagship event in October 2025. A technical workshop in September will be held to enhance youth capacities around the identified priorities, ensuring meaningful contributions to the flagship event and beyond. The WFF flagship event will also provide space for consultations in the lead-up to the 37th Session of COFI. A roadmap outlining planned youth-led activities throughout 2026 will be presented during the event and the outcomes of these consultations, along with updates on the youth constituency’s progress, will be shared at COFI in 2026.