International Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries Why, how and what FAO/SPC Pacific Islands Regional Consultation on the Development of Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Noumea, New Caledonia, 12-14 June 2012

Why guidelines on small-scale fisheries? Small-scale fisheries contribute to food security and poverty alleviation Over 90% (108 million people) of all fishers and fish workers are small-scale Most are in developing countries Half are women Many occasional fishers and fish workers Dependency on fishing as a way of life

Why guidelines on small-scale fisheries? The social and economic importance of small-scale fisheries is not fully recognised or understood Potential to increase the contribution of small-scale fisheries to poverty alleviation, economic development and food security

International Guidelines on Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries Global with focus on developing countries Marine + inland waters Whole fishery system Poverty alleviation and social & economic development Good governance of fisheries and sustainable utilization The Guidelines will support and build on other initiatives and instruments for sustainable development

Increased recognition of small-scale fisheries FAO COFI 2011 Recommendation to develop an international instrument on small-scale fisheries 2010 Regional Consultations Consultative process exploring how to better bring together responsible fisheries and social development (Bangkok, Maputo, San José) Bangkok 2008 Global Conference on securing sustainable small-scale fisheries + CSO Bangkok Statement on Small-scale fisheries FAO COFI 2003 Small-scale fisheries stand alone item 2011-2012 Consultation process continues FAO SSF Discussion Document – Regional and national consultations –International workshop in FAO

The importance of process Build on consultations already carried out Involve all relevant stakeholders Allow sufficient time for effective consultations Development overlaps with implementation agreed by governments, regional organisations and CSOs owned by small-scale fishing communities Negotiated instrument

Stakeholder consultation inputs 2011/12 Several more national consultations foreseen! Germany – Nov 2011 Pakistan– 2012 Monaco Nov 2011 Oman – Mar 2012 Costa Riica – 2011 India – Sep 2011 Morocco - June 2011 Panama – 2012 Barbados - Dec 2011 Tunisia - June 2011 Cambodia – 2011/2012 Honduras – 2011 Uganda - Nov 2011 Thailand - June 2011 Senegal - Nov 2011 Sri Lanka – Nov 2011 Dedicated event/ Consultation Nicaragua – 2012 Malawi – 2011/2012 Seychelles – Nov 2011 New Zealand - Aug 2011 Brazil – 2011 ‘Piggy back’ South Africa – May 2011

Negotiated draft to COFI for approval Next steps ‘Zero Draft’ June 2012 Progress report to COFI Jul 2012 Stakeholder consultation inputs 2012 –Jan 2013 Draft Guidelines April 2013 Technical Consult-ation May 2013 July 2014 Negotiated draft to COFI for approval

FAO Workshop in February 2012 Discussions on: Title, structure, scope and target audience Characterisation of small-scale fisheries Key guiding principles and thematic areas Resource governance, access regimes and enforcement Social and gender equality Disaster risks and climate change Social and economic development Postharvest employment and value chains Policy coherence, institutional coordination and collaboration Research and information needs, sources and exchange Capacity development Implementation support and monitoring

Characterisation of small-scale fisheries Great diversity No globally applicable definition Criteria for deciding what constitute small-scale fisheries in local and national context There should be a participatory, consultative and multi-level process for characterising and defining the sector in the national context

Key guiding principles Good Governance Interactive, adaptive, implementable Human Rights Equity Economic Viability Holistic and Integrated Approaches EAF + CCRF Guidelines should complement the CCRF and draw on its principles and approaches and be aligned to other related instruments

Resource governance, access regimes and enforcement Access needed to different kinds of resources – aquatic, land, information, legal systems, social services, etc Conventional enforcement tends not to work well in small-scale fisheries and different stewardship regimes should be promoted Good governance: subsidiarity, preferential rights and transparency Rights and responsibilities come together

Bringing responsible fisheries and social and economic development together Poverty is multidimensional and a holistic perspective of development is required Income Secure access to (fishery) resources Postharvest sector Complementary / alternative livelihoods Education, health and social services Working conditions Participation in policy and decision-making Achieving equity and equality Gender mainstreaming includes a wide range of aspects Migration is a common livelihood strategy Child labour needs to be addressed recognising its links to poverty Links between equity / equality and longer-term development prospects need to be understood

Disaster risks and climate change Cross-cutting topic: Resource management: different practices Social and economic development: social safety nets, insurances Postharvest: species and market changes Policy: integrate small-scale fisheries in DRM/CCA strategies and plans Take positive approach by building adaptive capacity based on traditional coping strategies

Research, information and capacity Capacity and organisational structures are needed to request support to give support to be represented to participate in decision-making Information is needed to understand and create awareness to make decisions, plan and act to know ones rights and make demands

Implementation considerations The Guidelines will only be effective if implemented: Visibility of SSF is key to gain political and financial support Process is key to buy-in and ownership Awareness raising and partnerships

Thank you www.fao.org/fishery/ssf/guidelines/en