abdellatif.belkouch@infosamak.org<\/a>), Managing Director, Centre for Marketing Information and Advisory Services for Fishery Products in the Arab Region (INFOSAMAK), Morocco<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe Near East and North Africa Regional Consultation Workshop, \u0091Towards the Implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication’, was held in Muscat, Oman, during 710 December 2015. It was jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Sultanate of Oman, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). The workshop was attended by 40 participants from countries in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) regionAlgeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Tunisiaincluding representatives of governments, fisherfolk organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), academia as well as representatives of regional and international organizations, NGOs and other relevant actors.<\/p>\n
The overall objective of the workshop was to raise awareness and support the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) in the region. During the workshop, participants reviewed the situation and current status of small-scale fisheries in the region, shared experiences through regional and topical presentations and discussions, and made suggestions with regard to the implementation of the SSF Guidelines in the region, including identification of priorities and recommendations for action.<\/p>\n
The workshop noted the socio- economic and cultural importance of small-scale fisheries in the region. Small-scale fisheries contribute to livelihoods, food security, and local and national economies. Fish is very important for nutrition, especially for population groups with limited purchasing power, and small-scale fisheries are a main contributor to local fish supplies.<\/p>\n
It is of great importance that the implementation of the SSF Guidelines be carried out within the framework of food security and poverty eradication and takes local needs into consideration. It was noted that small-scale-fisheries-dependent livelihoods go beyond fishing, and encompass social, economic and cultural values as well. The comprehensiveness of the SSF Guidelines was acknowledged and the need to take a holistic approach to small-scale fisheries governance and development was recognized.<\/p>\n
Women’s work<\/strong><\/p>\nWomen make significant contributions to small-scale fisheries, mainly in post-harvest processing and trading but also in other down- and upstream activities, although the rate of women’s participation varies from one country to another. Women also play an important role at the community and household level. However, women’s work is often invisible and hence not sufficiently recognized.<\/p>\n
There are encouraging develop-ments in the region with regard to reviews of policies and strategies, recognition of the socioeconomic dimensions of small-scale fisheries, and increasing emphasis on the participation of small-scale fisheries actors in decision making on resource management and development. However, challenges persist, includingwith some differences between different countriesinsufficient or weak organizational structures of small-scale fisheries actors, poor infrastructure facilities and services, heavily exploited fishery resources and a strong influence of demand on production, especially in the context of exports, and increasing risks from climate change and disaster impacts.<\/p>\n
The regional consultation consolidated summary conclusions and recommendations on issues, challenges and opportunities in relation to the implementation of SSF Guidelines in the NENA region in a final plenary session. In addition to the summaries of each working group, the workshop agreed on a vision for the region for the SSF Guidelines implementation, the need for political support and on broad objectives and principles of a Regional Plan of Action and related next steps.<\/p>\n
Key priority areas of actions to be considered further in national and regional implementation planning processes proposed by the workshop included:<\/p>\n
GOVERNANCE OF TENURE IN SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT<\/p>\n