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Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries

in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication

Overview of the SSF Guidelines in Europe

25/09/2020

FAO-led Initiatives

  • In 2018, the GFCM endorsed the Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (RPOA-SSF). The RPOA-SSF is a political commitment setting forth concrete actions to be carried out over the next ten years (until 2028) in order to strengthen and support sustainable small-scale fisheries in the region. It aims at establishing objectives, principles and recommendations laid out in the SSF Guidelines in order to ensure the long-term environmental, economic and social sustainability of SSF. For further information on the activities of the RPOA-SSF in North Africa can be read about in the July edition of the SSF Update.
  • Recently, within the framework of the RPOA-SSF, a 'Small-Scale Fisheries University' has been set up consisting of a variety of training courses directed in particular to small-scale fisheries actors in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region. Courses are organized by GFCM, FAO and partners, including by members of the 'Friends of SSF' network that has been set up for collaborating on the implementation of the RPOA-SSF.
Click to enlarge ©EU MSP Platform

Regional actors

Many of our partners around the world are making significant efforts to support the implementation of the SSF Guidelines. Here are some of the key regional organizations in Europe worth noting for their work on small-scale fisheries.

Directorate-General Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DGMARE)

  • DGMARE refers to the Common Fisheries Policy as the set of rules employed to manage and govern European fishing fleets and conserving fish stocks. Designed to manage a common resource, it gives European fishing fleets access to EU waters and fishing grounds.
  • The EU supports small-scale fisheries through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) offering financial assistance to get them involved in environmental, economic, social and cultural projects at a local level.
  • FARNET is the network of people implementing Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) under the EMFF. Through FARNET, Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), managing authorities, citizens and experts from across the EU can work together on the sustainable development of fisheries and coastal areas.

GFCM

  • The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) is a regional fisheries management organization working to ensure the conservation and the sustainable use of living marine resources in the Mediterranean and in the Black Sea. The GFCM has a permanent working group on small-scale fisheries established in September 2017.
  • The GFCM furthermore supports the implementation of a mid-term strategy (2017–2020) towards the sustainability of Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries, which includes a target to "Support livelihoods for coastal communities through sustainable small-scale fisheries' and a specific output dedicated to the implementation of the RPOA-SSF in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

The Friends of Small-Scale Fisheries

  • The Friends of Small-Scale Fisheries platform is a regional network of non-state actors sharing common interests and objectives for the sector. The platform is aimed at promoting transnational cooperation and building synergies among ongoing work in the region and was established in support of the implementation of the Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (RPOA-SSF).
  • The platform was officially launched on 26 September 2018 on the occasion of the "High-level conference on sustainable small-scale fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea', and consists of the GFCM (co-coordinator), the World Wildlife Fund for Nature - Mediterranean Marine Initiative (WWF-MMI) (co-coordinator), the Black Sea Advisory Council (BLSAC), the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM-BARI), Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) and Mediterranean Advisory Council (MEDAC).

Low Impact Fisheries Europe (LIFE)

  • The aim of LIFE is to provide a clear and coherent voice at EU level for small-scale fishers operating across Europe. Historically, they lack dedicated and effective representation in Brussels and at Member State level, hence LIFE’s objective is to provide a bridge of communication between fishers and politicians. The Platform works via a Management Board of working fishermen who are representatives of their local fishing communities. The daily duties are carried out by the Executive Director with the support of a Brussels-based Secretariat and its Regional Coordinators. LIFE is a Friend of Small-Scale Fisheries, helping to implement the GFCM’s RPOA-SSF in the Mediterranean, but is also equally active in other parts of Europe.

Too Big to Ignore (TBTI)

  • Too Big to Ignore is a global research network and knowledge mobilisation partnership that focuses on addressing issues and concerns affecting viability and sustainability of small-scale fisheries. In Europe, TBTI is conducting an overview of SSF characteristics and conditions, examining ways to improve market possibilities, and contributing to current discussions about SSF governance, including in the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy. The coordinators for TBTI Europe are Dr. Cristina Pita, Portugal & Dr. Jose Pascual-Fernandez, Spain.

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