In view of the global evaluation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs) that will be carried out by the Commission in 2021, the author highlights the key points which will need to be assessed from the perspective of the impacts on African coastal communities. The author also suggests essential improvements to be made for the future of SFPAs so that they better respond to the needs of these communities.
Hand in hand with financial giants, environmental NGOs wield increasing influence over natural resource management in debtor nations, undermining their sovereignty. The author warns against the rising financialization of conservation and calls for safeguarding the rights of local populations from the expanding influence of US financial interests.
The EU should guarantee rights-based and equitable decision-making processes about ocean uses, ensuring the protection of the most vulnerable facing more powerful blue economy industries. Taking into account the role of artisanal fisheries in food security and poverty eradication in developing countries, the EU should also support SSF and sustainable fisheries management in its ocean partnership with African countries.
Closing the funding gap for biodiversity conservation is one of the critical topics at COP 16 and has been estimated at US$700 billion in the report "Financing Nature" published in 2020. However, this article critiques the estimate, arguing it is based on flawed assumptions. Using fisheries as an example, the author questions its validity and urges rejection by those opposing the financialisation of conservation.
This article covers TNC’s recent debt-for-ocean swap with Gabon, involving US$500 million worth of debt. In exchange, the Gabonese government has committed to protect up to 30% of the oceans. The author looks in detail at the deal (Part 1) and the conservation commitments (Part 2), explores the problems with this deal in terms of debt justice and of ocean governance, and develops its implications for coastal communities.
This second article of our series on financialisation and the blue economy covers TNC’s recent debt-for-ocean swap in Belize, news about TNC’s “audacious plan” of other debt swaps in other countries, the history of debt swaps and how the recent swaps reflect the financialisaton of conservation and finally, why these debt swaps are worrying for small-scale fisheries.
The new EU regional programming for Africa gives fisheries and oceans greater importance. It also focuses more on small-scale fisheries stakeholders and civil society organisations, which is an opportunity for them to make their voice heard. This article covers a summary of the 2014-2020 and the ongoing 2021-2027 programming, calls for more policy coherence and recommends increased participation of stakeholders for greater and efficient use of the EU funding.
