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Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations globally. Most accidents and fatalities happen on small fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length. Access to insurance services is however limited for most small-scale fishers, particularly in developing countries. Less than 5 percent of small fishing vessels are insured. In contrast, more than 90 percent of industrial fishing vessels operating worldwide are insured. Action is needed to increase insurance coverage of small-scale fisheries.

On 24-26 September 2024, thirty fisheries insurance experts, maritime safety inspectors, naval architects, fisheries associations and fisheries experts, as well as representatives of the Africa Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA), the Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the CAFI-SSF Network met at FAO headquarters in Rome at the Expert Workshop on developing guidelines for inspection and valuation of small-scale fishing vessels.

The workshop aimed to develop tools to facilitate the supply of vessel insurance services to small-scale fishers worldwide, with an emphasis on small-scale producers in developing countries. Eventually, the increased supply of insurance services will contribute to making small-scale fisheries safer and more resilient.

The experts worked on drafting Guidelines for the Survey and Inspection of small fishing vessels and Guidelines for insurance value and risk assessment of small fishing vessels. Both guidelines are expected to remove some barriers that frequently constrain the supply of effective insurance services to small scale fishers and their vessels. 

The two guidelines draw on FAO, IMO and ILO voluntary international safety instruments that address safety of small fishing vessels and small-scale fishers, in particular:

• FAO/ILO/IMO. Document for guidance on training and certification of fishing vessel personnel, 2001.
• FAO/ILO/IMO. Voluntary Guidelines for the Design, Construction and Equipment of Small Fishing Vessels, 2005. 
• FAO/ILO/IMO. Code of Safety for Fishermen and Fishing Vessels, 2005.
• FAO/ILO/IMO. Safety Recommendations for Decked Fishing Vessels of Less than 12 metres in Length and Undecked Fishing Vessels, 2012.
• FAO/ILO/IMO, Implementation Guidelines on Part B of the Code, the Voluntary Guidelines and the Safety Recommendations, 2014.
• Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries: Fishing operations: Best Practices to improve safety at sea in the fisheries sector, 2015.

(links available here: www.fao.org/fishing-safety/capacity-building/guidelines-and-codes/en/)

The workshop would not have been possible without the technical and financial support from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation funded FAO project on Guidelines for inspection and valuation of small-scale fishing vessels to facilitate insurance (MTF/GLO/1161/LRF). 

A guidelines validation workshop is expected to take place virtually on Wednesday 11 December 2024.  After final review of the guidelines, they will be passed to relevant FAO, IMO, APRACA and AFRACA committees for endorsement. Public and private sector involvement is key to implement the guidelines effectively. A capacity building and awareness raising plan to support implementation of the guidelines is under preparation.