In a webinar on transforming aquatic food systems, organized by FAO, the EU and OACPS, participants underscore the key role of sustainable artisanal fisheries value chains for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The EU representative insisted however, on adopting a precautionary approach regarding aquaculture development.
The “Transforming Aquatic Food Systems to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals” webinar, which took place on 16 September, gathered national, regional and concerned stakeholders’ perspectives to share lessons learnt and successes of initiatives to sustainably develop fisheries and aquaculture.
Mr. Cristelle Pratt explained that a priority for the OACPS is to empower artisanal fisheries as they provide livelihoods and food for millions of people. Screenshot of the webinar.
In her introduction, Mrs Cristelle Pratt, Assistant Secretary General of the OACPS highlighted that “Aquatic food provide livelihoods for millions of people in countries and communities of the OACPS […] 60 out of 79 members of OACPS are involved in the trade of fisheries products.” The OACPS is of the view that there are many pathways to transform aquatic food systems. However, a priority of OACPS in that process of transformation is to empower and provide opportunities for artisanal fishers and farmers and women in fisheries because “they constitute the anchor of aquatic food systems in OACPS.”
Fishing communities at the centre of Blue Economy
Patrick Mc Conney, from the University of West Indies highlighted some lessons learned from initiatives in Barbados, where embracing the blue economy has transformed the thinking about how to integrate and optimize the contribution of small-scale fisheries: “We have found that the blue economy narrative has drawn small scale fisheries in a more central position.”
This was music to the ears of Mr Gaoussou Gueye, President of the African Confederation of Artisanal Fishing organization (CAOPA), who concurred that artisanal fisheries should be put at the centre of the blue economy: “The best way for ACP countries to recognise the importance of small-scale fisheries is to develop transparent, participatory and gender-sensitive national action plans for the implementation of the FAO Guidelines for Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries. Our concern today is that competition from other sectors, financially and politically more powerful, such as oil and gas exploitation, tourism, fishmeal factories, is jeopardising the future of artisanal fisheries.”
CAOPA demands that independent social and environmental impact studies are carried out by governments, with the utmost transparency and with the participation of the coastal communities affected, before any of these competing activities is given the green light. “We also want our States to put in place transparent mechanisms for consultation and conflict resolution between users of maritime spaces, which allow for informed and active participation of the affected fishing communities,” he continued.
Developing “sustainable” aquaculture
For Manuel Barange, FAO Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resources Division, the top focus in FAO’s vision for the transformation aquatic food systems is feeding the world through aquaculture expansion: “the target is to achieve 30/45% aquaculture growth by 2030 with quality food produced sustainably.”
Charlina Vitcheva, Director of DG MARE explained how the EU is calling for the use of alternative feed ingredients to fishmeal and fishoil for aquaculture production, such as algae or insects. Screenshot of the webinar.
Charlina Vitcheva, DG Maritime affaires and fisheries European Commission, urged for caution about aquaculture development: “The global growth of aquaculture should not come at the expense of the environment or of the social conditions.” To further sustainability of aquaculture, the full life cycle has to be taken into consideration “and that includes feed. The increased demand for feed for aquaculture should not deprive local communities of fish stocks that would otherwise provide nutrition security and livelihoods. The EU is calling for the use of alternative feed ingredients, algae, insects.” Before the summer, the European Commission adopted strategic guidelines for the sustainable development of aquaculture, and is working with FAO to develop guidelines that will have an impact globally on how aquaculture should be developed.
Improving access to resources and to markets for fishing communities
Ms. Vitcheva also mentioned a 40 million project “Fish4ACP”, funded by the EU and Germany, and implemented FAO as an example on how to push for more sustainable fisheries and aquaculture value chains.
Gaoussou Gueye, welcomed the commitments taken by ACP Fisheries Ministers at their 2019 meeting in Samoa, where the Fish4ACP project was launched, to support sustainable small-scale fisheries. He insisted that ACP states should give more attention to improving the living and working conditions of women processors, through this project: “Women are present at all stages of the ACP artisanal fisheries value chain: they pre-finance fishing trips, process and market the fish. They are the backbone of ACP artisanal fishing communities and are an essential link in getting the fish to local consumers.” He noted that such support would also help to reduce post-harvest losses due to the poor conditions in which women have to work (no cold chain, lack of hygiene…).
Gaoussou Gueye, President of CAOPA, insisted on the need to improve the living and working conditions of women in fisheries. Archive photo: CAOPA Facebook.
Mr. Gueye also insisted that a key element to transform aquatic food systems to achieve the SDG is to provide secure access to resources for small-scale fisheries, in line with SDG14b: “ACP States should grant exclusive fishing rights to artisanal fishers in coastal areas. Monitoring, control and surveillance measures should be put in place to ensure that industrial vessels respect the exclusion zones, including the development of a participatory monitoring system involving small-scale fishermen.” He explained this could be part of a broader framework of co-management between government and fishing communities.
In her concluding remarks, Ms. Pratt (OACPS) underlined the importance of having strong institutions at local, national, regional levels to achieve the SDGs, as well as the importance of education in the way we look at sustainably managing and conserving ‘blue’ resources. She also announced that the 7th Ministerial meeting of ACP Ministers in charge of fisheries aquaculture will be held in Accra (Ghana) in April 2022, and will discuss a strategic plan of action on fisheries on aquaculture, embracing blue economy. Given the importance of artisanal fishing and fish farming for OACPS, a focus of the Ministerial meeting will also be the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA).
Banner photo: A fish scaler in the Maldives, Shamveel Mufeed/Unsplash.
Although the protocol does not allow European fleets to fish for small pelagics because they are overexploited, at least 4 European vessels have reportedly reflagged to Guinea-Bissau and are fishing for these species in the region, jeopardising the region's food security and competing with small-scale fisheries.