Artisanal fisheries

8th meeting of OACPS Ministers Responsible for Oceans, Inland Waters and Fisheries: artisanal fisheries representatives call for the protection of coastal zones by and for communities

8th meeting of OACPS Ministers Responsible for Oceans, Inland Waters and Fisheries: artisanal fisheries representatives call for the protection of coastal zones by and for communities

In September 2024, the Ministers responsible for Fisheries of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) met in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) to discuss the theme ‘ Accelerating action for sustainable and resilient oceans, fisheries and aquaculture in OECP member countries and regions’.

MEPs discuss international challenges to be addressed by EU fisheries and aquaculture policies

MEPs discuss international challenges to be addressed by EU fisheries and aquaculture policies

A new study presented to the European Parliament Fisheries Committee outlined the strengths and weaknesses of the CFP and other EU policies in addressing current and future challenges in fisheries and aquaculture.

The EU must not support intensive fish farming — it's not sustainable

The EU must not support intensive fish farming — it's not sustainable

In a joint letter to the Hungarian Presidency of the European Union, organisations from Europe and Africa call for the end of EU’s support to intensive fish farming and instead the promotion of more sustainable small-scale aquaculture options that can co-exist with low impact fisheries.

African and European stakeholders call for the development of a regulatory framework for sustainable fisheries joint ventures

African and European stakeholders call for the development of a regulatory framework for sustainable fisheries joint ventures

The EU Long-Distance Advisory Council and CFFA co-hosted a seminar end of May in Berlin with key African fisheries stakeholders to discuss issues related to EU fishing companies with investments and operations in Africa.

Senegal's exports of fishmeal and fish oil "explode"

Senegal's exports of fishmeal and fish oil "explode"

The annual report on exports of fishery products confirms the trend: Senegal is becoming, after Mauritania and the Gambia, one of the countries that favours the production and export of fishmeal and fish oil to the detriment of the nutrition of its population.

Liberian artisanal fishers oppose further unravelling of their fishing zone to let trawlers in

Liberian artisanal fishers oppose further unravelling of their fishing zone to let trawlers in

In April 2024, the Liberian National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) invited several fisheries stakeholders to validate a draft fisheries management plan for a multi-species deep-water shrimp fishery, which are very vulnerable and already over-exploited. LAFA deplores the absence of an appropriate stakeholder engagement during the development of the plan.

Senegalese civil society outlines the challenges of the new president's programme for small-scale fisheries

Senegalese civil society outlines the challenges of the new president's programme for small-scale fisheries

In a position paper, APRAPAM questions the government's proposal to support the production of fish feed and insists instead on the importance of a management plan for small pelagics and the prioritisation of human consumption.

UN rapporteur on the Right to Food to governments: “Fishers have the answers to adapt to climate change and you have the tools to uphold their rights”

UN rapporteur on the Right to Food to governments: “Fishers have the answers to adapt to climate change and you have the tools to uphold their rights”

Mr. Michael Fakhri, UN special rapporteur on the right to food presented his latest report on fisheries and the right to food in the context of climate change at the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, putting a special focus on small-scale fisheries.

Women in fisheries at the forefront of African and European fisheries stakeholders’ dialogue

Women in fisheries at the forefront of African and European fisheries stakeholders’ dialogue

Organisations representing European and African fisheries stakeholders sent a joint advice to both the African Union and the European Union, looking at how EU policies, in particular SFPAs, could be better used to promote women’s activities in the African fisheries sector.

Artisanal fisheries in the spotlight at the first FAO Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management

Artisanal fisheries in the spotlight at the first FAO Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management

Back in 2022, African artisanal fishers asked that the implementation of the FAO guidelines on sustainable small scale fisheries be a standing item in the agenda of the new Sub-Committee and insisted it was essential to allow artisanal fisheries organisations to participate actively to its discussions.

“Small scale fishers play a central role for biodiversity conservation – this calls for recognition and support”, FAO is told

“Small scale fishers play a central role for biodiversity conservation – this calls for recognition and support”, FAO is told

14 organisations, representing small scale fishers’ organisations, environment, and development NGOs have issued a joint statement arguing at the occasion of the first meeting of the newly created FAO Sub Committee Fisheries Management, which is held this week online.

The message from African artisanal fishers to the FAO: "Sardinella should be reserved for small-scale fishers, for human consumption, not for fishmeal"

The message from African artisanal fishers to the FAO: "Sardinella should be reserved for small-scale fishers, for human consumption, not for fishmeal"

The FAO organised a workshop in Accra (Ghana) from 5 to 7 December on the theme: "Optimising food and nutritional security and the benefits of small pelagic species production in sub-Saharan Africa". In a joint presentation, CAOPA and CFFA warned of the impact of the decline in sardinella in West Africa on fishers, women fish processors and consumers.

UNOC 2025: Fishers’ Call to Action raises global attention

UNOC 2025: Fishers’ Call to Action raises global attention

The outcomes from the Civil Society Consultation in preparation of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference recommend more attention to small-scale fisheries (SSF), with an “Ocean Action Panel building on the Call to Action” which was released at UNOC 2 in Lisbon (2022).

African countries to develop guidelines for the negotiation of fair and transparent fisheries agreements

African countries to develop guidelines for the negotiation of fair and transparent fisheries agreements

At a COMHAFAT workshop held in Abidjan end of October, several regional and pan-African institutions and stakeholders discussed issues of transparency and economic spin-offs of current agreements.

Lövin: "In the CFP there are provisions for prioritizing giving fishing access to those that fish in the most responsible way"

Lövin: "In the CFP there are provisions for prioritizing giving fishing access to those that fish in the most responsible way"

In this Op-Ed, published first on EUobserver, former PECH MEP Isabella Lövin argues that the Common Fisheries Policy has all the provisions needed for Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements to successfully work as a “race to the top” rather than to the bottom.

CFFA commits to fishers rules of conduct and encourages others to follow suite

CFFA commits to fishers rules of conduct and encourages others to follow suite

The Coalition marks its support to the document by a letter to CFFA’s main partner, CAOPA, and pledges to abide by it in its work with artisanal fisheries organisations. By this action, the network wishes to lead by example so that other partners wishing to support small-scale fishing apply these standards too.

Côte d'Ivoire: "Thanks to this refrigerated container, women processors and fishmongers in San Pedro are able to get by"

Côte d'Ivoire: "Thanks to this refrigerated container, women processors and fishmongers in San Pedro are able to get by"

Two years after receiving funding from the EU-Côte d'Ivoire SFPA to buy a refrigerated container, we examine how the women of the Société Coopérative de Femmes Mareyeuses Grossistes et Détaillantes in the fishing port of San Pedro are faring. Beyond fish preservation, enabling women to become autonomous remains a challenge.

Accused of greenwashing and opacity, the French company Olvea replies. Is it convincing?

Accused of greenwashing and opacity, the French company Olvea replies. Is it convincing?

The discussion on Olvea’s role in the exploitation of West Africa small pelagics for fishoil comes as the OECD’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct have recently been updated and strengthened, to ensure responsible business conduct regarding their impacts across areas such as climate change, biodiversity and supply chain due diligence

Artisanal Fishing Local Councils “CLPA”: the fight to preserve the marine ecosystem

Artisanal Fishing Local Councils “CLPA”: the fight to preserve the marine ecosystem

Since 2010, Senegal has set up CLPAs as a fisheries co-management system. They aim to resolve problems at local level and involve fishers in monitoring, control, and surveillance. However, there is a lack of resources for this system to be implemented effectively. An article by journalist Paule Kadja Traoré.

"The European Union must be credible and demonstrate that EU taxpayer’s money is well spent in support of sustainable fishing”

"The European Union must be credible and demonstrate that EU taxpayer’s money is well spent in support of sustainable fishing”

From 8 different African countries, representatives of coastal fishing communities participated to a seminar on the external dimension of the CFP hosted by the EU Long Distance Fisheries Advisory Council (LDAC) in Sweden and then travelled to Brussels where they exchanged with decision-makers from the Commission and the European Parliament.