DIRECTOR, BOBP-IGO, ELECTED CHAIR OF RSN AT FAO, ROME
Dr. P. Krishnan, Director, BOBP-IGO, was unanimously elected Chair of the Regional Fishery Body Secretariats' Network (RSN) on 5 September 2026, at its 11th session held on the sidelines of the 37th Session of the Committee on Fisheries (COFI), at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy.
The RSN is a network of over 50 Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and Regional Fishery Advisory Bodies (RFABs), serving as a platform for information exchange and collaboration on shared challenges. With COFI-37 set to deliberate on closer FAO-RFB relations and on RFBs as a delivery mechanism for FAO, the RSN is set for reform and a larger role, as outlined in FAO's RSN Strategy Document of 2025.
As Chair, Dr. Krishnan will work closely with FAO and other RFBs to advance the global sustainability agenda. The key areas identified for the RSN during 2026-28 include small-scale fisheries, climate change, BBNJ, and cross-sectoral cooperation.
Thanking the RFBs and FAO for the trust shown, Dr. Krishnan said, "The responsibility is a reflection of the trust shown by the BOBP-IGO Member countries in the Organisation and their growing camaraderie in addressing regional issues. Working together, I look forward to delivering on the strategy document as envisioned by the members."
