ASFA: Back from the Edge and Moving towards a New Horizon

Abstract

Since its establishment in 1971, ASFA has steadily grown its partnerships and database, paying increasing attention to developing countries’ needs. However, its technologies and partnership model have failed to keep pace with modern developments. In order to address this, the FAO ASFA Secretariat has decided to implement a new Business Model by 2023, and will work with its stakeholders, including the Impact and Strategies Working Group and Strategic Advisory Group, to ensure ASFA remains a valued information product. The new business model will ensure ASFA meets FAO strategic objectives and wider goals of increasing access and dissemination of aquatic sciences and fisheries information. Several analyses have been performed by the ASFA Secretariat and others, which have informed ASFA’s direction. Work has already progressed on a number of areas that will be discussed in this presentation, specifically: ASFA technologies (new input software; online controlled vocabulary); ASFA collaborations (partnering with FAO departments and projects as well as external collaborations); and ASFA partnership model (a new Publishing Agreement with increased access for institutions in developing countries). However, a number of areas of work are to be determined, one of them being the MOU between FAO and IAMSLIC. Updating the MOU could lead to better collaboration between IAMSLIC and ASFA, in line with FAO goals, especially in the area of digital preservation.