EAFM training including the SSF Guidelines

The SSF Guidelines refer to the ecosystem approach to fisheries as an important principle but how do you integrate the two concepts? A training course in Myanmar in August allowed for discussions on how the ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) and the SSF Guidelines are linked and complementary.

The FAO-GEF FishAdapt project includes support to strengthening the capacity to apply the EAFM within the project’s overall framework of climate change adaptation. Adjusting the existing EAFM training course to Myanmar and including additional modules on climate change, disaster risk management, the SSF Guidelines, co-management, inland fisheries and irrigation, this training course – called EAFM Capacity Plus – was held on 12-23 August 2019 in Yangon. The course was attended by about 35 participants from the department of fisheries, government training institutes, universities, NGOs and CSOs, who learnt how to develop an EAFM plan through lectures and group exercises. The course also included training of trainers (ToT) and improved skills for working with fishing communities. The training was the first run of the course by the project allowing it finalise the training package, which will continue to be used as part of project activities.