Human rights

Senegal fishers lodge a complaint against energy companies for failing to exercise due diligence in their GTA project

Senegal fishers lodge a complaint against energy companies for failing to exercise due diligence in their GTA project

A Senegalese civil society organisation, member of the OECD Watch network, supported fishers from Saint Louis in placing a complaint to the UK and US OECD National Contact Points against the multinational enterprises British Petroleum and Kosmos Energy.

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.

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).

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.

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.

“Nothing about us without us”: fishers draft rules of conduct for how to work with them to save the oceans

“Nothing about us without us”: fishers draft rules of conduct for how to work with them to save the oceans

To mark the end of the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022), small-scale fisheries organisations from 5 continents followed up on their Call to Action (June 2022) and presented these guidelines to their partners and supporters.

"Conservation is not for conservation's sake. Conservation is for us: we need a fair place for communities."

"Conservation is not for conservation's sake. Conservation is for us: we need a fair place for communities."

Driven by a local NGO, which is committed to community development as well as turtle protection, Côte d'Ivoire's first marine protected area (MPA) is an example of how conservation can be achieved while respecting the rights and access of artisanal fishing communities to their traditional fishing grounds.

Small-scale fishers' "little babel" speaks with one voice at UN oceans conference

Small-scale fishers' "little babel" speaks with one voice at UN oceans conference

Around 20 small-scale fishers, men and women,from 6 continents gathered in Lisbon and jointly called to action” their governments to urgently implement 5 priority actions by 2030.

Local fishing communities’ involvement will be key for making OACPS-EU fisheries relations a success

Local fishing communities’ involvement will be key for making OACPS-EU fisheries relations a success

The new Partnership Agreement between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union, that should be signed in the first half of 2022 in Apia (Samoa), will guide the relations between the two blocks for the next twenty years.

EESC: “Aligning EU food production with SDGs requires legislation to ensure sustainable sourcing”

EESC: “Aligning EU food production with SDGs requires legislation to ensure sustainable sourcing”

During its plenary session on 9 December 2021, the European Social and Economic Committee (EESC) adopted a report on how to align EU food production, which includes seafood production, with the UN Sustainable Development Goals “for a sustainable post Covid 19 recovery.”

Blue Economy: MEPs call for a “balance” between new sectors and traditional activities, particularly small-scale fisheries

Blue Economy: MEPs call for a “balance” between new sectors and traditional activities, particularly small-scale fisheries

Discussing the draft of an own-initiative report, the European Parliament PECH committee reminds the European Commission that artisanal fisheries are the most vulnerable and fragile sector of the Blue Economy and insists on the strategic role of aquaculture and fisheries as providers of healthy food and jobs for the future.

Spending the night in the open : The Kouléwondy community continues to use the destroyed fish landing site

Spending the night in the open : The Kouléwondy community continues to use the destroyed fish landing site

One year later, the conflict opposing Hotel Noom to the fishermen and women processors after their eviction from the landing site is at a standstill.

Fight against the installation of a steel plant in Bargny: Women fish processors change their strategy

Fight against the installation of a steel plant in Bargny: Women fish processors change their strategy

The project of the company Tosyali Holding Senegal, of Turkish origin, is likely to lead to the displacement of at least 20 families and put an end to the economic activity of hundreds of women involved in the processing of fish products and agriculture.

Stories on artisanal fisheries: call for proposal to African journalists

Stories on artisanal fisheries: call for proposal to African journalists

The Network of Journalists for Responsible and Sustainable Fisheries in Africa (REJOPRA) offers grant to reporters for investigative articles and videos on how small-scale fisheries face and adapt to climate change and overexploitation of resources.

European Commission: “Given the importance of fisheries and aquaculture, any diversification of the African economy should fully build on these traditional sectors”

European Commission: “Given the importance of fisheries and aquaculture, any diversification of the African economy should fully build on these traditional sectors”

In a response letter to a joint call by 16 civil society organisations for an Inclusive Oceans Strategy, the European Commission says they are “fully aware” of the value of Small-scale Fisheries.