While small-scale fisheries provide jobs along the value chain for 60.2\u00a0million people \u2014 nearly 90\u00a0per cent of fishing employees worldwide \u2014 their voices are often undervalued and unrecognized in global food systems, experts and delegates alike stressed today, as participants in the fifth Lisbon dialogue explored ways to protect their valuable stocks from overexploitation.<\/p>\n
Taking place on day three of the 2022 Ocean Conference, the interactive dialogue \u2014 \u201cMaking Fisheries Sustainable and Ensuring Access to Marine Resources and Markets for Small-Scale Fishers\u201d \u2014 looked at how subsidies exacerbate the problems of overcapacity and overfishing and are often a source of unfair competition against small-scale fishers.<\/p>\n
Against that backdrop, Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said oceans, rivers and lakes can help feed the world, provided that their precious resources are exploited responsibly, sustainably and equitably.\u00a0 While marine food production is proven to be more nutritious, has less environmental impact and emits fewer greenhouse gases than land animals, too few countries include fish in their food security and nutrition strategies.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, he said effectively managed fish stocks are recovering, citing progress on Sustainable Development Goal 14.6, which aims to eliminate subsidies that promote overfishing and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.<\/p>\n
Following suit, Henry Puna, Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, took stock of efforts by the \u201cBlue Pacific\u201d initiative to combat overfishing, noting that several agencies are involved in the sustainable management and development of fisheries resources, including the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency.\u00a0 It works in parallel with the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, a subregional organization comprised of eight countries and one territory which control 50\u00a0per cent of the world\u2019s tuna supply.<\/p>\n
He explained that these agencies work in cooperation with the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, a regional organization, to sustainably manage tuna in that area which is the only ocean that has healthy tuna stocks \u2014 thanks to cooperative management by the Parties to the Nauru Agreement, whose members derive 30-90\u00a0per cent of their revenue from tuna fishing license fees.<\/p>\n
The voices of the Pacific were also heard at the twelfth World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, where a \u201cpartial agreement\u201d on fisheries subsidies was reached.\u00a0 The Pacific islands are keen to obtain flexibilities that offer developing WTO members the political space they need to develop their fisheries, and, therefore, calling on the WTO and major subsidizers to commit to further negotiations to include overcapacity and overfishing and reach a comprehensive agreement as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
Shakuntala Thilsted, 2021 World Food Prize Laureate, Global Lead of Nutrition and Public Health of World Fish, and Steering Committee Member of the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security, highlighted the significant contribution of small-scale fishers to the ocean economy.\u00a0 She voiced regret that they are often undervalued and unrecognized for their participation in global food systems, noting that disruptions caused by climate change, COVID-19 and conflict have underscored their vulnerable access to national social security systems, such as loans, insurance, education and health care.<\/p>\n
However, strong international instruments and platforms, such as today\u2019s Conference, are helping to identify opportunities to advance their cause. \u00a0She cited the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Ensuring Sustainable Artisanal Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication as another powerful tool for Governments, policymakers, practitioners, academics, the private sector and local communities to advance small-scale fisheries and increase their contribution to global food and nutrition security. \u00a0These recommendations should not be taken in isolation, she explained, but rather operationalized in conjunction with the Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition, which ensure convergence of the food, agriculture, nutrition and health sectors.<\/p>\n
Santiago Wills, Ambassador of Colombia to the WTO and Chair of the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations, recalled that Goal 14.6 mandates the WTO to negotiate a ban on subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and overfishing, taking into account the needs of developing countries.\u00a0 After many years and enormous efforts, WTO ministers on 17\u00a0June adopted a legally binding agreement on fisheries subsidies \u2014 the first WTO environmental agreement, the first and largest legally binding multilateral agreement on ocean sustainability, and most importantly, a big step forward in redirecting Government funds to support environmental sustainability.<\/p>\n
He said the agreement contains innovative notification and transparency requirements for fisheries subsidies, he said, and will significantly improve the collection of data.\u00a0 \u201cThis is excellent news that will greatly facilitate the difficult task of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and in particular, its Fisheries Committee,\u201d he said.\u00a0 It is also good news for small-scale artisanal fishers, as public spending can now support the sustainable fishing practices of artisanal fishers, rather than the $22\u00a0billion spent each year on harmful subsidies.<\/p>\n
Launching the interactive dialogue, lead discussant Elisa Morgera, Director of One Ocean Hub and Professor of Global Environmental Law at University of Strathclyde Law School, highlighted the importance of taking a human rights approach to fisheries.\u00a0 Equally essential is recognizing the collective and customary rights of small-scale fishermen, facilitating their access to justice and involving them in decisions that affect them.\u00a0 She also called for the integrated management of marine resources, describing these fishermen as \u201cguardians of the water\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lead discussant Editrudith Lukanga, Co-President of the World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fish Workers and Vice-Chairperson of the International Steering Committee of the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022, said 500\u00a0million people depend on small-scale fisheries.\u00a0 It is estimated that they account for at least 40\u00a0per cent of the world\u2019s capture fisheries and provide jobs along the value chain to 60.2\u00a0million people \u2014 nearly 90\u00a0per cent of fishing employees worldwide.\u00a0 She pointed to the Voluntary Guidelines on Ensuring Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication in 2014 in this context.<\/p>\n
In the ensuing interactive dialogue, the representative of the Solomon Islands, speaking for the Pacific small island developing States, argued that small-scale fisheries are essential to the way of life of people in the Pacific and voiced support for a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.<\/p>\n
Joining those calls, the representative of French Polynesia called for an ecosystem approach to the management of coastal fisheries, advocating for more financing and investment in the artisanal fisheries sector.\u00a0 For their part, the representatives of Madagascar and Norway stressed that small-scale artisanal fisheries are a source of food, income and cultural identity for several million people worldwide.\u00a0 They also provide more than half of all fisheries resources for human consumption, making them an important contributor to global food security.\u00a0 Given this, Madagascar has developed a blue policy framework that highlights artisanal fisheries and the professionalization of small-scale fisheries actors.<\/p>\n
For the Marshall Islands, said its representative, the question hinges on whether partnerships can help small island developing States build capacity to improve surveillance and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing on one hand, and address the sustainable development of fisheries on the other. \u00a0He called for islands to be \u201ctruly in control\u201d of their own resources, while Cabo Verde\u2019s representative stressed the relevance of protected marine areas to replenish fish stocks and stop biodiversity loss.<\/p>\n
The speaker from Africa Blue Economy highlighted fishing\u2019s share of gross domestic product in many African countries, noting that steps have been taken at the national, regional and continental levels to promote sustainable fisheries management.\u00a0 The African Union is also working to establish a food security agency to reduce post-catch losses by upgrading the \u201ccold chain\u201d and other measures to facilitate market access.<\/p>\n
As a responsible fishing nation, Japan decided to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in international waters, announcing its intention to enact a law banning the entry of products from these means into its market.\u00a0 The European Union\u2019s representative likewise said it takes a zero-tolerance approach to such activities, and more broadly advocated investment in small-scale fisheries, which account for 80\u00a0per cent of the catch in the region. \u00a0He added that vessels must be upgraded to meet sustainable and responsible fishing requirements.<\/p>\n
Speaking for the \u201cGroup of 77\u201d developing countries and China, Pakistan\u2019s delegate said 80 per cent of the world\u2019s fishermen live in developing countries.\u00a0 Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing exacerbates poverty and food insecurity, and undermines marine ecosystems.\u00a0 Mechanisms for cooperation and knowledge sharing in marine research and technology access must be strengthened, while innovative financing is needed to help countries transition to a sustainable ocean economy. Co-chaired by Derek Klazen, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Namibia, and Lawrence Hanson, Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Oceans of Canada, the dialogue was moderated by Gim Huay Neo, Director-General of the World Economic Forum\u2019s Centre for Nature and Climate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[178],"tags":[],"region":[],"source":[813],"country":[1920],"state":[],"city":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newss\/95772"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newss"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/newss"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newss\/95772\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":95773,"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newss\/95772\/revisions\/95773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95772"},{"taxonomy":"region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/region?post=95772"},{"taxonomy":"source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/source?post=95772"},{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=95772"},{"taxonomy":"state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state?post=95772"},{"taxonomy":"city","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.icsf.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/city?post=95772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}