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Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries

in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication

Implementing the SSF Guidelines in Small Island Developing States

27/10/2020

FAO-led Initiatives

The Global Action Programme on Food Security and Nutrition in Small Island Developing States aims to accelerate action on food security and nutrition to support the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It is intended as a concrete, tangible contribution to the integrated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is a direct response to the call in paragraph 61 of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway for an action programme to address the food security and nutrition challenges facing SIDS. Objective 2.1.1.13 aims to provide support to the implementation of the SSF Guidelines, including supporting the development of national implementation plans based on national capacities, priorities, needs, and conditions.

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Regional actors

The Caribbean

  • TheCaribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) is a non-profit technical institute conducting research, policy influence and capacity building for participatory natural resource governance in the Caribbean. Under their Coastal and Marine Livelihoods and Governance program, CANARI’s goal is to improve livelihoods and contribute to poverty reduction by promoting and facilitating sustainable use and governance of coastal and marine resources, building effective institutions and facilitating collaboration among key stakeholders.

    As part of CANARI’s support in implementing the SSF Guidelines the institution has adopted a national diagnostic of fisherfolk organisations in Trinidad and Tobago developed by Duke University. The main purpose of this project is to help understand how fisherfolk organisations self-govern and identify areas for improvement and capacity building within the organisation.

    Additionally, CARNARI contributed to a 2015 FAO Technical Workshop on ‘Social protection to foster sustainable management of natural resources and reduce poverty in fisheries-dependent communities’, where social protection programs in Trinidad and Tobago and in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines aimed at reducing poverty was reported on.
  • The Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), a department within the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of the West Indies in Barbados, promotes and facilitates sustainable development in the Caribbean. In 2016 the Gender in Fisheries Team (GIFT) were formed under the auspices of CERMES to support implementation of the SSF Guidelines in the 17 member states of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM). Since 2016, they have participated in multiple events and contributed to several policy and technical documents – include a FAO Technical Paper on Chapter 7 of the SSF Guidelines (Value Chains, Post-Harvest and Trade), and the FAO Handbook on gender-equitable small-scale fisheries governance and development.

    Most recently, the GIFT has been working to implement the gender aspects within the SSF Guidelines and the protocol to the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP). The objectives of the project include communicating evidence to policy makers on the role of women in fishery value chains, and mainstream the concept of gender equity and equality through Caribbean small-scale fisheries.
  • The Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations (CNFO) is a network of small-scale fisherfolk and their organisations, operating in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The network promotes effective ecosystem-based management of fisheries resources, secure livelihoods, food security for Caribbean communities and resilience to risks, including climate change.

    Currently, CNFO is working with FAO to develop awareness raising materials for their members. This will be presented at a workshop and aims to inspire action on fisher-led initiatives. Furthermore, CNFO is advocating for greater representation of their members at regional and international fisheries management processes, as is articulated in the SSF Guidelines.  
  • The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) was officially inaugurated on 27th March 2003, in Belize City, Belize, where it is headquartered, following the signing of the “Agreement Establishing the CRFM” on February 4, 2002. It is an inter-governmental organization with its mission being to “to promote and facilitate the responsible utilization of the region's fisheries and other aquatic resources for the economic and social benefits of the current and future population of the region”. The CRFM consist of three bodies – the Ministerial Council; the Caribbean Fisheries Forum; and the CRFM Secretariat.

    In 2018, during the 12th Ministerial Council of the CRFM, the Protocol on Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries as the first protocol under the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP). It integrates the SSF Guidelines into the fisheries policies of 17 Caribbean countries and entered into force immediately.
  • The Western Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission (WECAFC), established in 1973, serves primarily to promote effective conservation, management and development of living marine resources throughout the Western Central Atlantic region. The organization is made up of 33 countries and the European Union.

    At the 17th Session of the WECAFC held in July 2019, the Commission recommended that the International Year of Small-Scale Fisheries and Aquaculture in 2022 (IYAFA) be used as an opportunity to consolidate activities with partners. The purpose would be to link the highly distributed activities occurring in the Caribbean to showcase  the progress  made  in implementing  the  SSF  Guidelines  and  gain  more visibility for the WECAFC area. Specific activities include:
    • WECAFC Members actively participate in planning the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022)
    • WECAFC Members form a coordination group to coordinate regional activities and participate in global planning processes for IYAFA. Such a regional committee has been formed in the meantime.

The Pacific

  • The Pacific Community (SPC) is an international development organisation coordinated and governed by its 26 country and territory members. Its work focuses on cross-cutting issues, such as climate change, disaster risk management, food security, gender equality, human rights, non-communicable diseases and youth employment. 

    FAME - the SPC’s Division of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems – has been involved with a number of activities relating to the implementation of the SSF Guidelines. For example, the Pacific Handbook for Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture, published in 2019, designed to give practical guidance on improving gender and social inclusion in coastal fisheries and aquaculture, was greatly influence by the SSF Guidelines. Additionally, in 2019, the SPC participated in the ‘Pacific Regional Workshop on Exploring Sustainable Development Goal Target 14.b and its Indicator 14.b.1’ aimed at supporting the pressing need to improve awareness in the Pacific Region surrounding SDG Target 14.b including the relevant linkages to regional and global policies and frameworks.

Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea

  • The Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission (AFPIC) was established under the APFIC agreement as the Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council in 1948 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. APFIC is an Article XIV FAO Regional Fishery Body established by FAO at the request of its members. Singapore is the only SIDS among its membership.
  • The Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF) includes three SIDS in its membership: Capo Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe. CECAF works to promote the sustainable utilization of the living marine resources within its area of competence by the proper management and development of the fisheries and fishing operations. CECAF has a working group on small-scale fisheries.
  • The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) is an intergovernmental organization that links African Indian Ocean nations: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion and the Seychelles. IOC works to improve political and diplomatic cooperation, economic and commercial cooperation, sustainable development, cooperation in the field of agriculture, maritime fishing, and the conservation of resources and ecosystems.
  • The Federation of Artisanal Fishermen of the Indian Ocean (FPAOI) was created in 2015, with the aim of representing and defending the interests of artisanal fishermen in the countries of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). FPAOI currently groups together 18 professional organisations and associations representing artisanal fishermen in the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, La Réunion (France) and the Seychelles.
  • Recently, the International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC), took the initiative to form an African Advisory Group in support of the implementation of the SSF Guidelines. The African Advisory Group is composed of representatives of global and regional civil society networks having small-scale fisheries organizations in the African continent as their members, including FPOAI.

Tips for further reading

Caribbean

Pacific

Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Seas