COFI High Level IYAFA 2022 event brings together ministers, high level delegates, small-scale fisheries actors from all regions and the UN Special Envoy of the Ocean to celebrate the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022

Rome, 5 September 2022 -  In the opening day of the 35th session of the Committee on Fisheries a high level event on the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022) was held. The hybrid event began with the intervention of FAO’s Director-General, Qu Dongyu who reaffirmed the potential small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers have to promote the transformation of our aquatic food systems and asked for the commitment to making this International Year the beginning of a new era of support for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, leaving no one behind.

The opening remarks were continued by H.E. Jorge Luis Prado Palomino, Minister of Production from Peru, country providing the Chair of the International Steering Committee of the Year who recalled the Global Action Plan for IYAFA 2022 and a series of events and actions that were taken by Peru to celebrate the year. His final words were an invitation to all to increase the impact of the celebrations and promotion of the International Year.

Ms. Christiana Louwa spoke on behalf of the IPC Working Group on Fisheries, the co-chair of the IYAFA International Steering Committee. After blessing the event through a ‘misitica’her speech focused on the importance of actions that are people-. She called for  the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) and called the attention of maintaining momentum on IYAFA 2022 for the next two years, in order to scale up SSF Guidelines implementation leading up to the 10th year anniversary of their endorsement. Ms Margaret Nakato, from the Katosi Trust and IPC Working Group on Fisheries, and winner of the 2020-21 Margarita Lizzaraga award, continued andpointed out how the year has supported the empowerment of stakeholders, such as small-scale fishers, fish farmers, fish workers and their organisations, and the importance to use key messages on small-scale fisheries and aquaculture to inform advocacy and engage with relevant decision-making processes, including legislators and government agencies in the formulation and adoption of laws.

Mr. Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, made a pledge to all to continue advocating for the best interests of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture. He shared thoughts on how to increase the support for SDG 14 through the implementation of the SSF Guidelines and by increasing access to resources and markets for small-scale artisanal fisheries: “… much more can be done to enhance the achievement of this target. Measures to take include: establishing and strengthening co-management; recognizing and protecting customary and traditional tenure rights, including those of indigenous peoples; and capacity development for better and safer products, ensuring the fair distribution of benefits – with special attention due to the millions of women in processing and marketing”.

Regional perspectives with concrete examples of successful action and looking ahead – what can and needs to be done?

The second round of interventions was a trip around the world, which started with a video message by H.E. Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, Minister for Environment, Water, and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia, who gave examples and presented actions taken by the country to increase investments in small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture and described the importance fish farmers have to increasing food security in the country.

From Asia, H.E. Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, Minister for Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia, reaffirmed the idea that for Indonesia, celebrating IYAFA is not a one-time event. Therefore, Indonesia’s strategy for the implementation of the blue economic policy is based on programs which involve fishers and fish workers. Mr Choltisak Chawpaknum. Director of Fisheries Foreign Affairs Division from the Department of Fisheries of Thailand joined the event online to describe not only concrete actions, but to reiterate that small-scale artisanal fisheries are also a way of life, relying on nature, using traditional wisdom in their fishing practices, alongside the conservation of natural resources without causing environmental damage and thus, artisanal fishers can play a vital role in driving Thailand towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Turning to Africa, H.E. Tsimanaoraty Paubert Mahatante, Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy of Madagascar, highlighted that Madagascar’s new politics of transparency helps improve good governance within the sector for the benefit of small-scale actors and called on all partners to increase impact. H.E. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to FAO spoke on behalf of the Africa Region, which has been very active in celebrating this important year, through several activities and events; from exhibitions, dialogues, panel discussions, webinars and conferences organised to promote IYAFA 2022.

From Europe, Ms. Alicia Villauriz, Vice-Minister for Fisheries of Spain presented how important small-scale producers were during the pandemic and in general to the food security and nutrition, offering highly nutritious food to people worldwide. She pointed out the differences artisanal fisheries have in different parts of the world, but that all of them have one characteristic in common: their importance to maintaining the livelihoods and developing coastal communities.

For North America, Ms. Maxine Burkett, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Fisheries and Polar Affairs United States Department of State joined via zoom and declared that the United States of America and Canada both work directly and with partners around the globe to build better governance and management of the ocean and its resources that acknowledges and supports this vital sector, in line with the vision and principles of the SSF Guidelines and its focus on a human rights-based approach.

Mr Juan Francisco Santibañez, Head, Fisheries Development Division of Chile presented the three subregional committees that were created in Latin America and the Caribbean to promote IYAFA 2022 and reiterated how committed the region is to celebrating and promoting IYAFA 2022, before sharing a video on activities in Chile.

Ms Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director General of FAO in closing confirmed that  that FAO is proud to lead this Year – but that success depends on all in recognizing and empowering small-scale fisheries and aquaculture actors, not only by celebrating this Year but also by sharing knowledge, data, good practices, investing in innovative and sustainable solutions where small-scale fishers, farmers and workers are active players in transforming our agrifood systems, eradicating poverty, rural development and improving human well-being. She reminded that the Year has still four months to go and that there is still time to actively engage and take advantage of IYAFA 2022 to raise awareness, celebrate, ensure dignity and a secure future for the small-scale fisheries and aquaculture sub-sectors. 

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You can access the recording here, in case you missed the COFI HIGH LEVEL #IYAFA2022 event.

To view pictures of the event, click here.