On the 9th December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted its annual Resolution on Sustainable Fisheries. Like in previous years, it came out at a time when many are already in the mood for celebrating the end of the old year and the beginning of the new.
For artisanal fishers around the world, 2022 was not a year like any other: it was the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA), an opportunity to showcase their potential and diversity of highlight how they can contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). How were artisanal fisheries priorities reflected in the UNGA 2022 resolution – a document which, although it is not binding, gives an indication of the international community’s will to address pressing issues ?
FAO’s work during IYAFA praised
Along with other topical issues, such as the management of bottom fishing and the impacts of climate change on fisheries, artisanal fisheries clearly left its mark on the 2022 UNGA resolution, which encourages States “to recognize the importance and role of small-scale, artisanal and subsistence fisheries and to support their long-term environmental, economic and social sustainability.”
In that context, UNGA saluted the tireless efforts of the FAO during IYAFA, welcoming the establishment of a subcommittee on fisheries management in the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI). This was also welcomed by the African Confederation of Artisanal Fisheries Professional Organisations (CAOPA), who insisted that this subcomittee should facilitate a permanent dialogue between small-scale fishers organisations and governments. The active participation of artisanal fishing communities in the work of this new body will be at the heart of effective and successful implementation of the small-scale fisheries Guidelines in all its components - social, economic, cultural, environmental.
“What do we want? Co-management!”
Echoing the call of artisanal fishers for participating to fisheries management, the UNGA urged States “to provide for the participation of small-scale fishery stakeholders in policy development and fisheries management strategies,” encouraging them “to consider promoting, as appropriate, participatory management schemes for small-scale fisheries in accordance with national laws, regulations and practices, as well as the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries.”
Thérése Tah, fish processor from Grand Béréby, has eight children and is the main breadwinner for her family. Photo by Rich Press.
The UNGA gave support to another key demand of artisanal fishers: to protect small-scale fishers access rights to coastal fisheries, by closing inshore areas to industrial fishing. Indeed, it urges States and other relevant bodies to consider fisheries management measures such as “closed seasons and areas and zones reserved for selected fisheries, particularly artisanal fisheries.”
Information and participation of artisanal fishers in decision-making processes require important human and technical resources – participation to management comes with a heavy price tag. To address this, the UNGA encourages “increased capacity-building and technical assistance by States, international financial institutions and relevant intergovernmental organizations and bodies for fishers, in particular small-scale and artisanal fishers, in developing countries, in recognition of the fact that food security and livelihoods may depend on fisheries.”
UN sees a bright future for aquaculture, remains elusive about its dark side
The UNGA resolution traditionally emphasizes the role of fish and fish products in nutrition and food security, especially noting the importance of the availability of highly nutritious food for low-income populations – something which is, in most developing countries, a role played by small-scale fisheries.
To promote diversification of the food supply, the UNGA champions aquaculture, but remains very cautious about denouncing the threats on food security posed by intensive aquaculture depending on fishmeal, due to the exploitation of small pelagics for fishmeal rather than for direct human consumption. The resolution does recognise “the importance of marine species occupying low trophic levels in the ecosystem and for food security, and the need to ensure their long-term sustainability,” but merely encourages States “to analyse, as appropriate, the impact of fishing for marine species corresponding to low trophic levels” and welcomes the initiation, by FAO, of further studies of the impact of industrial fishing activities on species corresponding to low trophic levels.
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The impact of fishmeal dependant aquaculture on fisheries and fishing communities is something that imperatively will need to be addressed in the future FAO Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture (GSA).
Women role recognised, no specific action proposed
Women play a central role in artisanal fisheries. However, they do not feature very highly in the UNGA text, that mainly recalls the commitment made by States, in “The future we want”, to ensure access to fisheries and access to markets to subsistence, small-scale and artisanal fisherfolk and women fish workers. The resolution however raises an important issue facing women in artisanal fisheries: “the lack of access to social protection and unequal employment opportunities.”
Where is blue economy?
Artisanal fishers have coined the term ‘blue fear’, to express how they feel threatened by more powerful sectors of the blue economy, such as the energy sector (oil and gas offshore exploitation, deep sea mining, etc). The UNGA steers clear of this topic of potential conflicts between fisheries and other sectors of the blue economy – a quick search reveals that even the word ‘blue’ is completely absent from the text.
The resolution however slightly touches on the topic when raising concern about ocean noise pollution, which comes from human activity like commercial shipping, seismic surveys, oil exploration, causing serious threats to marine life. The UNGA recognises that such ‘anthropogenic underwater noise’ could have impacts on different marine species, which could also have consequent socioeconomic impacts, including on fishing. It further welcomes on-going efforts to increase science-based knowledge on underwater anthropogenic noise and encouraging FAO to assess its possible impacts.
It is to be hoped that these types of demands made for anthropogenic water noises, -more knowledge on environmental and socio-economic impacts- will lead to stronger demands for undertaking social and environmental impact assessments, and, a call for the adoption of a precautionary approach. As artisanal fishers put it: no new use of the oceans should be allowed by governments if it is not demonstrated it will not harm small-scale fisheries or the marine ecosystems they depend on for their livelihoods.
The path towards fair and sustainable access arrangements
Some aspects have been in the UNGA resolution for years, but have not aged, such as the UNGA call for transparent, sustainable, and fair access arrangements.
Fisherman Kwaku Penye on the beach in Grand Béréby, Cote d'Ivoire, said that large trawlers fish in waters where industrial fishing is supposedly illegal: “With one net, they take enough fish to fill ten pirogues.” Photo by Rich Press.
Indeed, the UNGA requests distant-water fishing nations, when negotiating access arrangements with developing coastal States, to do so “on an equitable and sustainable basis and to take into account their legitimate expectation to fully benefit from the sustainable use of the natural resources of their exclusive economic zones,” including through a greater attention to fish processing and fish processing facilities. Vessels flying the distant water fishing nations flag should comply with the laws and regulations of the developing coastal States. It encourages, in this regard, “greater transparency regarding fisheries access agreements, including by making them publicly available.”
Not all activities of distant water fleets are always identified as such – an increasing number of them are reflagging to developing coastal countries, a move that allows them access to coastal waters, where they often compete with artisanal fishers. For such a scenario, the UNGA also has a piece of advice and urges States “to effectively exercise jurisdiction and control over their nationals, including beneficial owners, and vessels flying their flag, in order to prevent and deter them from engaging in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities […] and to facilitate mutual assistance to ensure that such actions can be investigated and proper sanctions imposed.”
Conclusion
The UNGA has definitely put the spotlight on the importance of artisanal fisheries and the need to support its development. However, some key issues that need to be addressed to ensure its future are paid lip service, in particular the threats posed by other sectors of the blue economy.
The cohabitation between fisheries and these other sectors is not something that will disappear from the global agenda. For sure, it will be discussed at the next high level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14, which was decided by UNGA on 20 December 2022 (Resolution for a 2025 United Nations Conference), to be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. And, like in 2022, for sure, artisanal fishers will be there to defend their rights.
PHOTOS BY RICH PRESS
Rich is an American science writer and photographer with an abiding interest in fisheries and people who make their living on the water. All the photos from this article were taken in 2021 in the fishing communities of Grand Béréby and San Pedro with the permission of the fishers.
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