Fish Forum 2024 Workshop

The Fish Forum is a significant event focusing on fisheries and related Mediterranean and Black Sea issues. By bringing together scientists and policymakers, the workshop aims to find ways to manage fisheries sustainably while supporting the people who depend on them. 

At the recent Fish Forum 2024 in Antalya, Turkey, experts gathered to discuss how to improve support for fishers. The workshop, organized by FAO's SocPro4Fish project, the FAO General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), aimed to evaluate the current social protection systems and find ways to make sure they reach everyone who needs them. 

This collaboration between FAO and GFCM is crucial for ensuring fishing communities have the support they need to thrive. By working together, they can share information and resources to improve social protection programs for fishers across the region. 

The workshop highlighted the importance of social protection in ensuring sustainable fisheries management and decent working conditions for fishers. Experts discussed various programs, such as unemployment benefits and insurance schemes, that can make a big difference in fishers' lives. 

Yassine Ben Arfa, representing Tunisia, emphasized how social protection is essential for helping fishers follow regulations and protect marine resources. The workshop also addressed common barriers that fishers face in accessing support, such as legal and financial obstacles. 

Key presentations included an overview of the GFCM-LEX database, which provides valuable information for fisheries management, and analyses of social protection programs in countries like Egypt and Albania. These insights help policymakers understand what's working and where improvements are needed. 

The workshop ended with a commitment to continue working together to expand social protection in the fisheries sector. By pooling their expertise and resources, FAO and GFCM can ensure that fishing communities in the Mediterranean and Black Sea have the support they need to thrive.