A CALL TO ACTION
from small-scale fisheries
Through the Guidelines to Secure Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries (VGSSF) and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.b, States have committed to secure access to marine resources and markets for small-scale fisheries.
In this “Call to Action”, small-scale fishers from six continents call their governments to action to ensure that small-scale fisheries are protected and restored, so that they can continue contributing to economies, health, culture and wellbeing.
DOWNLOAD THE CALL
(available languages)
Now
is the time to act
Women and men in maritime and inland small-scale fisheries (SSF) make a major contribution to livelihoods, employment, food security and revenue, in contrast to their marginalisation in decision-making. Coastal fishing communities are the most numerous ocean users.
To ensure healthy and resilient fishing communities, SSF require secure and preferential access to healthy oceans and ecosystems to effectively play their key roles as guardians of the ocean and contributors to food security and nutrition.
SSF demand that governments address the lack of science based, transparent, participative fisheries management and threats posed by pollution, competition for space and resources by other blue economy industries, and to invest in long-term resource management, ecosystems restoration and innovations introduced by women and men from fishing communities.
This call is organised around 5 key priorities for action:
We call on governments and their partners to build resilient small-scale fishing communities by developing national strategic plans to implement these actions by 2030.
These plans must be adequately funded and guided by the FAO Guidelines to Secure Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries and other relevant regional policies.
