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
Global with
focus on
developing
countries
Marine +
inland
waters
Whole
fishery
system
Poverty
alleviation
and social &
economic
development
Good
governance
of fisheries
and
sustainable
utilization
The Guidelines will support and build on other initiatives
and instruments for sustainable development
Increased recognition of small-scale fisheries
FAO COFI 2003
Small-scale fisheries stand alone item
Bangkok 2008
Global Conference on securing sustainable small-scale fisheries + CSO Bangkok Statement on
Small-scale fisheries
2010 Regional Consultations
Consultative process exploring how to better bring together responsible fisheries and social
development (Bangkok, Maputo, San José)
FAO COFI 2011
Recommendation to develop an international instrument on small-scale fisheries
2011-2012 Consultation process continues
FAO SSF Discussion Document – Regional and national consultations –International
workshop in FAO
The importance of process




Build on consultations already carried out
Involve all relevant stakeholders
Allow sufficient time for effective consultations
Development overlaps with implementation
Negotiated instrument
agreed by governments, regional organisations and CSOs
 owned by small-scale fishing communities

Stakeholder consultation inputs 2011/12
Several more national
consultations foreseen!
Germany –
Nov 2011
Monaco
Nov 2011
Costa Riica –
2011
Panama –
2012
Barbados Dec 2011
Morocco June 2011
Honduras –
2011
Dedicated event/
Consultation
Nicaragua –
2012
Senegal Nov 2011
Brazil –
2011
Pakistan–
2012
Oman –
Mar 2012
India –
Sep 2011
Tunisia June 2011
Cambodia –
2011/2012
Uganda Nov 2011
Malawi –
2011/2012
‘Piggy back’
South Africa –
May 2011
Sri Lanka –
Nov 2011
Seychelles –
Nov 2011
Thailand June 2011
New Zealand Aug 2011
Next steps
June
2012
2012 –
Jan
2013
Stakeholder
consultation
inputs
‘Zero
Draft’
Jul
2012
April
2013
Progress
report to
COFI
Draft
Guidelines
July 2014
Negotiated draft to COFI
for approval
May
2013
Technical
Consultation
FAO Workshop in February 2012
Discussions on:
Title, structure, scope and target audience
Characterisation of small-scale fisheries
Key guiding principles and thematic areas
Resource governance, access regimes and enforcement
Social and economic development
Disaster risks and climate change
Postharvest employment and value chains
Social and gender equality
Policy coherence, institutional coordination and collaboration
Research and information needs, sources and exchange
Capacity development
Implementation support and monitoring
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
Good Governance
Human
Rights
Equity
EAF + CCRF
Interactive, adaptive,
implementable
Economic
Viability
Holistic and
Integrated
Approaches
Guidelines should complement the CCRF and draw on its
principles and approaches and be aligned to other related
instruments
Resource governance, access regimes
and enforcement
• Access needed to different kinds of resources – aquatic, land,
information, legal systems, social services, etc
• Conventional enforcement tends not to work well in small-scale
fisheries and different stewardship regimes should be promoted
• Good governance: subsidiarity, preferential rights and transparency
Rights and responsibilities
come together
Bringing responsible fisheries and social
and economic development together
Social and economic
development
• Poverty is multidimensional and a holistic
perspective of development is required
• Income
• Secure access to (fishery) resources
• Postharvest sector
• Complementary / alternative livelihoods
• Education, health and social services
• Working conditions
• Participation in policy and decision-making
Achieving equity
and equality
• Gender mainstreaming includes a wide range
of aspects
• Migration is a common livelihood strategy
• Child labour needs to be addressed
recognising its links to poverty
• Links between equity / equality and longerterm development prospects need to be
understood
Disaster risks and climate change
Cross-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
Capacity and organisational
structures are needed

to request support

to give support

to be represented

to participate in decision-making
Information is needed

to understand and create awareness

to make decisions, plan and act

to know ones rights and make demands
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 you
www.fao.org/fishery/ssf/guidelines/en