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