Resilient small-scale fisheries: The role of rights Blake Ratner Eddie Allison WorldFish Centre May 2007

Ning Savat's story: Cambodia A fisherman turned human rights activist His work shows links between environmental management and human rights But there’s more…

Our understanding of the challenge Small scale fishers marginalized economically and politically, and vulnerable Marginalization and vulnerability contribute to failures in fisheries management Way forward must be centred on people's livelihoods, linking fisheries to broader development and governance agenda A human rights perspective CAN help shift the debate about fisheries management goals and actions Securing rights is a cornerstone to improving fisheries governance

Lake Volta, Ghana Child traficking & forced child labour An extreme example of poor people’s vulnerability and exclusion from decision-making Management can’t be improved without tackling this

An expanding dialogue WorldFish is seeking to transform itself as a much more effective catalyst for change Means re-assessing the roots of the problems we work on Means re-assessing the way we work... rooted in frank exchange

Resilient SSF: The Goal Goal is resilient livelihoods –Not just livelihoods FOR conservation, or FOR national economic development Resilience incorporates concept of reducing vulnerability to stresses & shocks, and building adaptive capacity –Requires a healthy ecosystem –Requires action to secure and maintain basic rights Rights are integral to the goal (not a means)

An alternative approach Awareness --> Influence --> Commitment The three phases in practice: an "impact framework" –Diagnose threats & opportunities –Define management constituency –Develop actions & policies in support of adaptive management

The approach in practice: Coastal Vietnam Vulnerability of SSF –declining fish stocks, competition, excess capacity Risk of conflict –not just "resource management"; also an issue of social development, social cohesion A proactive policy framework –dramatic reduction in number of small fishing vessels –support for mainstreaming co-management Rights are key levers of change –rights to resource access –rights to participation in decision making –rights to food, livelihood, & environment –rights to legal recourse & justice

Coastal Vietnam: Diagnosis Government recognizes vulnerability of SSF –declining fish stocks, competition, excess capacity Government recognizes risk of conflict –not just "resource management"; also an issue of social development, social cohesion A proactive policy framework –dramatic reduction in number of small fishing vessels –support for mainstreaming co-management Rights are key levers of change –rights to resource access –rights to participation in decision making –rights to food, livelihood, & environment –rights to legal recourse & justice

Coastal Vietnam: Defining the management constituency Must extend beyond conventional government agencies Includes actors in intersectoral coastal zone management Includes government, community, university, NGO actors Many actors motivated by challenge of social development / conflict resolution (not “responsible fisheries” as such)

Coastal Vietnam: Adaptive management Challenge: how to institute co- management systems that respond to local livelihood needs AND respect ecosystem integrity Rights to use balanced by responsibilities for protection Policies to enable a transition to livelihoods outside of fishing key to building resilience in coastal SSF Adaptive management is not just about the fishery –It’s about building resilience in a social-ecological system heavily influenced by markets, policies, laws, economic and social trends

What's different? … compared to conventional fisheries management? Conventional fisheries management has failed because it disregards the complexity of SSF Appreciating complexity needed in analysis, stakeholder roles, and in management actions A human rights perspective helps to clarify that complexity, helps to orient actions … compared to conventional human rights advocacy? Human rights not advocated in isolation Rights are integral to improving fisheries governance and management outcomes Not only a moral issue, also a development imperative: Strengthened rights Less vulnerability, more capacity to adapt Social-ecological resilience

An opportunity We believe that making progress in improving fisheries livelihoods, fisheries management, and fisheries’ contribution to development outcomes is hard but achievable WorldFish is looking to engage with stakeholders in change processes at local, national, and regional scales And we're seeking partners to do this... in refining the impact framework through practice... in cross-country comparison & synthesis of lessons... in advocacy & communications