International Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries
Why, how and what
FAO/SPC Pacific Islands Regional Consultation on the Development of Guidelines for
Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF)
Noumea, New Caledonia, 12-14 June 2012
Why guidelines on small-scale fisheries?
Small-scale fisheries contribute to food security and poverty alleviation Over 90% (108 million people) of all fishers and fish
workers are small-scale Most are in developing countries Half are women Many occasional fishers and fish workers
Dependency on fishing as a way of life
Why guidelines on small-scale fisheries? The social and economic importance of small-
scale fisheries is not fully recognised or understood
Potential to increase the contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty alleviation, economic development and food security
International Guidelines on Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries
The Guidelines will support and build on other initiatives and instruments for sustainable
development
Increased recognition of small-scale fisheries
FAO SSF Discussion Document – Regional and national consultations –International workshop in FAO
2011-2012 Consultation process continues
The importance of process
Build on consultations already carried out Involve all relevant stakeholders Allow sufficient time for effective consultations Development overlaps with implementation
agreed by governments, regional organisations and CSOs
owned by small-scale fishing communities
Negotiated instrument
Stakeholder consultation inputs 2011/12
South Africa – May 2011
Brazil – 2011
‘Piggy back’
Barbados - Dec 2011
Thailand - June 2011
Tunisia - June 2011
Morocco -June 2011
New Zealand -
Aug 2011
Malawi – 2011/2012
Cambodia – 2011/2012
Oman – Mar 2012
Senegal - Nov 2011
Uganda - Nov 2011
Honduras – 2011
Sri Lanka – Nov 2011
Dedicated event/
Consultation Seychelles –Nov 2011
Germany – Nov 2011
India – Sep 2011
Monaco Nov 2011
Several more national consultations foreseen!
Nicaragua – 2012
Costa Riica – 2011
Panama – 2012
Pakistan– 2012
Next steps
July 2014Negotiated draft to COFI for approval
FAO Workshop in February 2012Discussions on:
Characterisation of small-scale fisheries Great diversity No globally applicable definition Criteria for deciding what constitute small-scale
fisheries in local and national context
There should be a participatory, consultative and multi-level process for characterising and defining the sector in the national context
Key guiding principles
Guidelines should complement the CCRF and draw on its principles and approaches and be aligned to other related instruments
Good Governance
EquityEconomicViability
EAF + CCRF
HumanRights
Holistic and Integrated
Approaches
Interactive, adaptive,
implementable
Resource governance, access regimes and enforcement
Bringing responsible fisheries and social and economic development together
Disaster risks and climate changeCross-cutting topic:
Resource management: different practices
Social and economic development: social safety nets,
insurances
Postharvest: species and market changes
Policy: integrate small-scale fisheries in DRM/CCA
strategies and plans
Take positive approach by building adaptive capacity based on traditional coping strategies
Research, information and capacity
Information is needed to understand and create awareness
to make decisions, plan and act
to know ones rights and make demands
Capacity and organisational structures are needed
to request support
to give support
to be represented
to participate in decision-
making
Implementation considerations
The Guidelines will only be effective if implemented:
Visibility of SSF is key to gain political and financial
support
Process is key to buy-in and ownership
Awareness raising and partnerships
Thank youwww.fao.org/fishery/ssf/
guidelines/en