The future of sustainable fisheries around the world does not lie merely in the scale of operations but in the artisanal attitude and its attendant culture. This is the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022). From a quick survey of the website of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and many other publicity briefs of civil society organizations (CSOs) that are co-celebrating the year, the focus is strongly on small-scale fisheries and aquaculture. ‘Small in scale, big in value’ is one of the key messages.