International ocean governance is changing rapidly due to the call to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 and the concept of the Blue Economy. In the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA), this session looks at the current role of small-scale fisheries and fishing communities in national and international ocean governance processes, the negotiation processes between different stakeholder groups, and questions of social justice, equity and fairness.
The economic and socio-cultural importance of small-scale fisheries (SSF) is increasingly recognized, not least thanks to the FAO's Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (2014). The SSF Guidelines were developed in close cooperation with stakeholders, and call for recognizing fishing communities' tenure rights and their inclusive participation in decision-making.
At the same time, international ocean governance is changing, including the call to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, and the concepts of “Blue Economy" and “Blue Justice". Small-scale fishers and fishing communities still express concern that this agenda largely neglects social aspects and falls short of the standards in the SSF Guidelines. How can equity be built into ocean governance as a core component of sustainable resource use?
In the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA), this session provides a timely opportunity to ask how we can ensure sustainability with stakeholder participation, while safeguarding the rights and hearing the voices of those who depend on aquatic resources for their food and livelihood.
Submissions on the following topics are encouraged:
- community-based management or the role of SSF and fishing communities in ocean governance
- perspectives of different stakeholder groups and their negotiation processes, including debates related to "30x30" and the Blue Economy
- social justice, equity and fairness in the marine field, and how these can be integrated into national and international fisheries management and science.
Contributions that were developed by and in collaboration with stakeholders are particularly welcome.
