Ocean Conference - FAO statement in Partnership Dialogue 5

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

1. Oceans and their resources lie at the heart of the 2030 Agenda; their resources provide critical support to human well-being, livelihoods food security and nutrition, especially for peoples of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
2. More than 3 billion people rely on fish for protein, and some 300 million people’s livelihoods are dependent on marine fisheries of which 90 percent are based on small-scale, artisanal fisheries, and almost half of these are women.
3. In support of the key role that small-scale fisheries play in food security and livelihood improvement, especially within SIDS and LDCs, the FAO Committee on Fisheries endorsed a new internationally negotiated and agreed instrument dedicated specifically to small-scale fisheries in 2014.  
4. This instrument, titled “Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines)” sets out principles and guidance for sustainable small-scale fisheries and include specific chapters on the responsible governance of tenure, value chains, post-harvest and trade.
5. The implementation of the SSF Guidelines is part of FAO’s Global Action Programme on Food Security and Nutrition (GAP), as called for in the S.A.M.O.A Pathway outcome document, and which is implemented through FAO’s Blue Growth Initiative.
6. The GAP supports SIDS and LDCs aspirations to generate greater benefits, including decent work and incomes, from the sustainable use of aquatic resources.

 

Let me conclude by informing that FAO is ready to make 4 voluntary commitments during this Conference, which are:  

 

First, to reinforce efforts made on ‘Rebuilding fisheries’, taking account of the needs of developing country coastal communities. This will be a holistic approach leaving no one behind, through amongst other tools the Blue Communities concept of the Blue Growth Initiative.

 

Second, to increase economic benefits to SIDS  through the Blue Growth Initiative. This will be done both in a general way and through three specific regional SIDS projects, coming up to 16 mill. USD from FAOs integrated budget.

 

Third, to support the implementation of Port States Measures Agreement, the Catch Documentation Scheme and the Global Record to combat Illegal Unreported and Unregulated fishing. A special unit will be set up to support capacity building activity for implementation of the PSMA.

 

Fourth, deliver technical assistance on issues related to market access and trade-related aspects, including on ‘harmful subsidies’, aiming to foster effective linkages between policies, relevant international instruments and the regulatory framework in the area of international trade, environment, and global fisheries governance.

 

This represents in total an allocation in the next biennium of at least 40 million USD from FAO’s integrated budget on these activities.

 

Thank you for your attention.