35 civil society delegates representing small-scale fisheries from 19 countries across South and North America, Africa, Asia and Europe met in Rome over Saturday and Sunday 18 and 19th May to prepare for Technical Consultations on a new international instrument.
The new instrument, in the form of International Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries is the outcome of years of struggles and more recently, close co-operation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Naseegh Jafeer from the World Forum of Fisherpeoples (WFFP) noted that struggles dont always lead to better life, as witnessed by the situation of small-scale fishing communities in his country, South Africa.
Gaoussou Gueye, representing the African Confederation of Professional Artisanal Fishworkers (CAOPA), stated that the guidelines were vital for eliminating poverty, fighting against illegal fishing, and adapting to climate change. He emphasised the vulnerability of small-scale fisheries in the African region, and noted that too many projects in the past had failed to deliver. He hoped that through implementing the guidelines once adopted, small-scale fishing communities would be able to claim their rights.
Mitchell Lay, representing the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations, commented that in his view the aim of the Guidelines was to secure livelihoods for all small-scale fishers for the future.
The CSO delegation was hosted by the FAO Office of Corporate Communications and Partnerships (OSC). Their meeting was inaugurated by Mr Lahsen Ababouch, Divisional Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Economics from the FAO Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Delegates also heard from Mr Rolf Willmann who has been responsible in FAO for leading the process of developing the Guidelines, and from Dr Fabio Hazim from Brazil, who is the designated Chair of the Technical Consultations.
The meeting enabled CSO delegates to share experiences from the consultations in their countries and regions, to review the draft text of the guidelines and to drafts their responses, and to prepare an opening statement to be read out by Señora Zoils Bustamente, the President of the Chilean National Confederation of Artisanal Fishermen (CONAPACH).