The EU seafood market is one of the biggest and the most lucrative market in the world for seafood products.
EU trade and imports policies, like EPAs, GSP, among others, have an impact on food production systems in Africa.
The current EU Farm to Fork strategy, which seeks to use its international cooperation to build global sustainable food systems, largely ignores seafood production in general, and pays no attention to the role of artisanal fishermen in sustainable food systems in Africa nor their contribution to poverty eradication.
Photo: Joëlle Philippe/CFFA
Recognizing the important contributions of artisanal and small-scale fisheries to employment, income and food security, States should appropriately protect the[ir] rights [...], to a secure and just livelihood, as well as preferential access [...] to traditional fishing grounds and resources”
what are we doing?
We monitor EU trade and import policies that have an impact on the livelihoods of artisanal fishing communities in Africa;
We raise awareness about the role of African artisanal fisheries ensuring food security of their communities and region; and
We strive to provide a space for dialogue between these stakeholders and EU decision-makers.
Eu food policy coalition
We are members of FPC, a network of civil society organizations advocating for sustainable food systems at the EU level.
latest publications
In this article, the author reviews a recent report published by Poseidon and funded by German govenrment which looks at how to increase the benefits of EU SFPAs in African countries, with a particular emphasis on small-scale fisheries, gender equity and food security.
JOINT LETTER: 11 African artisanal fisheries organisations and development NGOs send a letter to Commissioners Virginius Sinkevicius and Jutta Urpilainen asking them to use the crucial voice of the EU through Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements and the EU-Africa partnership to address the impending food crisis in the West African region linked to the fishmeal and fishoil production.
In a contribution sent to the European Commission, co-signed with 8 other civil society and environmental organisations, we highlight the most important points to be taken into account for the renewal of the protocol, to ensure that the fishing agreement has a positive impact for small-scale coastal fishing communities.
The Sub-Committee responsible for providing recommendations to the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) on the technical and economic aspects of the international fish trade is meeting in Bergen (Norway) this week. We take a look at what's at stake for small-scale fisheries in Africa.
The Spanish presidency of the EU is seeking to finalise the negotiations for a corporate accountability directive before the end of December 2023, which would see European based companies take some degree of responsibility for what they do in third countries. We look at some key issues at stake for the third countries small scale fishers.
The European Parliament is set to give its consent at the end of May to the new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the EU and Mauritius. This article outlines the challenges that Mauritian artisanal fisheries face and highlights the priorities for sectoral support in the future SFPA protocol to support this sector.
The FAO Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture can be improved by including the considerations of stakeholders that are currently facing the negative impacts of unsustainable aquaculture, and by openly addressing issues like the interactions with small scale fisheries, competing for coastal space and for access to resources like small pelagics in West Africa.
A recent report assessing the progress made on food and agriculture-related Sustainable Development Goals glosses over the fact that around the globe, men and women in the artisanal fisheries value chain still face incredible hurdles in seeing their access rights respected. IYAFA has catalysed recognition for small-scale fisheries important roles in food security and livelihoods, but now action on the ground and concrete results are needed.
JOINT PRESS RELEASE: Small-scale fisheries are small in name only. Half a billion people – 7% of the global population – are at least partly dependent on them for food, employment and income. They are the largest group of ocean users, have contributed the least to the ocean emergency, and are among the most affected by it. Yet their needs, roles and rights are often ignored, and they are generally sidelined or excluded from major policy discussions that directly affect their lives and livelihoods.
In this article, the author underscores the ecological and social impacts of Norwegian intensive salmon farming, including the impact on food security in West Africa. The author remarks that while on the one hand, the European Union promotes fish for human consumption in Africa, on the other, the EU also opens wide its market gates for Norwegian farmed salmon, which is fed West African fish.