Alexander Ford, 25 March 2021

In 2017, the 72nd Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) proclaimed 2022 as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022), with the FAO serving as the lead agency, in collaboration with other relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system.

The objectives of IYAFA 2022 are as follows:

• Enhance global awareness about, understanding of, and action to support the contribution of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture to sustainable development, and more specifically in relation to food security and nutrition, poverty eradication and the use of natural resources).

• Promote dialogue and collaboration between and among small-scale artisanal fishers, fishfarmers, fish workers, governments and other key partners along the value chain, as well as to further strengthen their capacity to enhance sustainability in fisheries and aquaculture.

The oversight and management of IYAFA is coordinated by two bodies: the IYAFA Secretariate, made up from representatives from each of the relevant divisions within the FAO, and the IYAFA International Steering Committee (IYAFA ISC), composed of representatives of Member States, civil society organizations and non-governmental organisations.

Preparations for the Year have begun in earnest with the IYAFA website already launched with a dedicated email service ([email protected]). Moreover, a draft Global Action Plan (IYAFA GAP) has been developed, structured around four outcomes: Raised awareness, Strengthened science-policy interface, Empowered stakeholders and Partnerships. These will be achieved through the implementation of 7 Pillars containing indicative and interconnected actions. These pillars include: Environmental sustainability, Economic sustainability, Social sustainability, Governance, Gender equality and equity, Food security and nutrition, and Resilience.

The IYAFA GAP is meant to provide inspiration for small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture proponents including, but not limited to, national administrations, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), private enterprises, development agencies and intergovernmental bodies.

Please feel free to share comments, thoughts, questions and ideas with the IYAFA Secretariate at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you and celebrating this most auspicious year!