1. 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, June 2012

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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
Consultation process continues
FAO SSF Discussion Document – Regional and national consultations –International workshop in FAO

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Thank you