Representatives from national small-scale fisheries organizations from the Latin America and Caribbean region established an Ibero-American Network of Artisanal Small-Scale Fisheries

Cadiz, Spain. May 2022 - Small-scale fisheries are a key source of nutrition and employment in many Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as in the Southern European countries of Spain and Portugal. However, their multiple and multidimensional contributions to sustainable development, as well as the challenges that threaten the livelihoods of small-scale fisheries stakeholders from the entire small-scale fisheries value chain, are often unrecognized, leading to a generalized exclusion from relevant decision-making processes that shape their lives.

In this regard, the Small-Scale Fisheries Producers Organization Lonja de Conil (OPP72), a Spanish small-scale fisheries organization from the Southern province of Cadiz, whose efforts are directed at enhancing the sustainability of the sub-sector, raising awareness on the importance of aquatic products, supporting the inclusion of local aquatic products in national and international markets, and facilitating fleet renewal among its members, organized two International Congresses on Small-Scale Artisanal Fisheries in 2020 and 2021. These events, in addition to serving as a forum to discuss a number of issues relevant to small-scale fisheries in the Mediterranean, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Maghreb region, fostered conversations among representatives of national small-scale fisheries organizations that would ultimately lead to establishing an international network that would allow for an increased, meaningful and effective participation of small-scale fisheries stakeholders in relevant decision-making processes.

Later on, OPP72, upon request of representatives from national small-scale fisheries organizations from the Latin America and Caribbean region, organized two back-to-back events, namely the establishment of the Ibero-American Network of Artisanal Small-Scale Fisheries and an International Meeting on Small-Scale Artisanal Fisheries. Both events, which took place in Cadiz on 8 – 11 May and in Conil de la Frontera on 11 – 14 May 2022 respectively, also contributed to raise awareness on the International Year of Small-scale Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA) 2022 and on the contributions of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development.

The Ibero-American Network of Artisanal Small-Scale Fisheries, with a wide membership comprising representatives from national small-scale fisheries organizations from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Portugal, and Spain, will represent and give voice to more than 20 million small-scale fishers, who notwithstanding their varying characteristics, are often subject to similar challenges. In addition, the Network has committed to actively promote and disseminate the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty eradication (SSF Guidelines), as well as the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

As stated in paragraph 10.6 of the SSF Guidelines ’small-scale fisheries stakeholders should promote collaboration among their professional associations, including fisheries cooperatives and CSOs. They should establish networks and platforms for the exchange of experiences and information and to facilitate their involvement in policy-and decision-making processes relevant to small-scale fishing communities.’ In this effort towards better representation and participation, the establishment of the Ibero-American Network of Artisanal Small-Scale Fisheries already starts as a major success.