The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF), with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), conducted a sesson at the Small-Scale Fisheries Summit 2022, in Rome, between 11:00 Hrs and 12. 30 Hrs CET on 3 September 2022. The SSF Summit represents a true opportunity to promote dialogue between small-scale fishers and fishworkers, and key partners and decisionmakers ahead of the 35th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) that will take place 5-9 September in Rome, Italy.
This dialogue of the Summit will discuss and support implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (the SSF Guidelines).
An FAO-ICSF project between July 2018 and March 2020 focused on implementing the SSF Guidelines in nine countries (Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam), in the context of national marine and inland fisheries policies, legislation and programmes.
The dialogue focused on the results of the project, identified key issues and discussed challenges facing small-scale fishing communities from a human-rights-based approach. The presenters included Sebastian Mathew and V Venugopal of ICSF, Elyse Mills, Sivaja Nair from ICSF, and Nicole Franz and Lena Westlund from the FAO. Discussions were based on the need to develop effective mechanisms, processes and institutions of relevance to small-scale artisanal fisheries.
A parallel session, between 17:30 Hrs and 19. 30 Hrs CET on 3 September 2022, focused on the implementation of the SSF Guidelines, and discussed regional plans of action. Led by Sebastian Mathew, Executive Director, ICSF, the workshop discussed the implementation of the SSF Guidelines in Asia, Africa and Latin America, particularly within the framework of human rights and tenure rights.
The parallel session focused on the key issues, obstacles and challenges faced in protecting the human rights of fishers and fishing communities, and in defending the tenure rights of small-scale fishers and fishing communities. A special focus was placed on the impact of the Blue Economy on the small-scale subsector. The impact of climate change was another key part of the discussions.
The parallel session also looked into the challenges faced by women in fisheries regarding access to resources, markets and participation in decision-making processes. The role of fisheries organizations (associations and co-operatives); decentralization/devolution of fisheries governance; and the importance of decent work were examined. Group discussions explored how regional plans of action, or regional frameworks for national plans of action, can enhance the implementation of the SSF Guidelines.
For further information please contact Mr. Venugopal (icsf@demo2.icsf.net)