In 1997 the FAO Conference instituted the Margarita Lizárraga Medal to be awarded every two years to a person or organization that has served with distinction in the application of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The Medal pays tribute to Ms Margarita Lizárraga, Senior Fishery Liaison Officer, for her decisive role in promoting the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries for her productive work in the field of fisheries for almost forty years, for her great dedication to FAO and for her strong commitment towards fostering the promotion of the fisheries sector, especially in developing countries.

The Selection Committee unanimously agreed to award the 2008-2009 Margarita Lizárraga Medal to the Honourable Abraham Iyambo, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Namibia. Dr Iyambo is the first individual to be awarded the medal (the five earlier winners were organizations*). He was selected in recognition of his national, regional and international leadership with distinction in the application of the Code through implementation of responsible fisheries science, policies and management including the negotiations leading to the Reykjavik Declaration, his contribution to establishment of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Project (BCLME), the Benguela-Environment-Fisheries-Interaction and Training Programme (BENEFIT) and the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organization (SEAFO).

The Medal will be presented to Dr Iyambo by the FAO Director-General during the Thirty-sixth Session of the Conference to be held in Rome, Italy in November 2009.
* For full list of previous winners of the Margarita Lizárraga Medal