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Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries

in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication

Supporting sustainable small-scale and artisanal fisheries at the 34th Session of the Committee on Fisheries

01/02/2021 - 05/02/2021

The 34th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) took place on 1-5 February 2021 in the face of the trying circumstances the world is facing at the moment. The ongoing pandemic required FAO to adapt to unprecedented circumstances, holding COFI online for the first time in the organisation’s 75 year history. Despite these challenging conditions not only was there an evident respect for all, but the smooth running of the event allowed for a clear confirmation of FAO's mandate to continue ‘Supporting sustainable small-scale and artisanal fisheries’ for the coming two years in the dedicated Session 8 of COFI. Moreover, COFI endorsed the 2021 COFI Declaration for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture on the 25th Anniversary of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF), “acknowledging the important role and contribution of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture in poverty eradication and in providing livelihoods, as well as ensuring food security and nutritional needs of local communities.”

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The SSF Guidelines are synonymous with policy direction on small-scale fisheries and COFI regards the SSF Guidelines as a central tool for achieving poverty eradication, sustainable food systems,  resource utilization and livelihoods. This was made especially evident during the discussions as the Committee recommended to include the SSF Guidelines in several high-level events and processes  including the UN Ocean Conference, the Our Ocean Conference, UN Food Systems Summit, the Global Conference on Aquaculture and the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity and the achievement of SDG 14.

Moreover, the Committee reaffirmed its commitment to the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA) in 2022 and emphasized the opportunity to focus world attention on the role of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture for food security and nutrition, sustainable use of natural resources, poverty eradication and COVID-19 recovery and to create a positive narrative through partnerships, effective participation of small-scale producers and exchange best practices. In this context the Committee also encouraged collaboration with the UN Decade of Family Farming.

The greatly anticipated study, Illuminating Hidden Harvests (IHH), also received praise with the Committee affirming its great utility in policymaking. The Committee has even requested that FAO intensifies support to members by building on the IHH study by using the findings, conducting further analysis, method development and related capacity development on small-scale fisheries data and information, in particular at the national and regional level.

Lastly, the Committee has requested that FAO increases its work on better access to markets; fair access to fishing rights; considering potential impacts of competing sectors and activities; improved legal frameworks; strengthened small-scale fisheries organizations; gender equality; use of information and communication technology; and reduction of food waste and loss. FAO will endeavour to further develop our understanding of these issues in order to provide evidence-based research to policymakers.

COFI Webcast

General Statements by Countries (including comments on small-scale fisheries)

Statements by Countries under Item 8 ‘Supporting sustainable small-scale and artisanal fisheries’

Statements by Observers