Artisanal fisheries

Ensuring Gender Equity in artisanal fisheries

Ensuring Gender Equity in artisanal fisheries

Coinciding with the celebration of the International Women’s Day, and looking at the upcoming International Year of Artisanal Fisheries in a year from now, the author reviews the dedicated Gender Guide for the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on Small-scale Fisheries, published by FAO and ICSF in 2017.

What future for Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements?

What future for Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements?

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.

International Ocean Governance: more can be done to promote socially and environmentally sustainable fisheries

International Ocean Governance: more can be done to promote socially and environmentally sustainable fisheries

Ahead of the EU IOG conference from 14 to 16 December, it is essential to recall the role of sustainable fisheries in providing livelihoods in coastal areas and its contribution to food security.

World Fisheries Day: How the EU can support sustainable African artisanal fisheries

World Fisheries Day: How the EU can support sustainable African artisanal fisheries

In this declaration on the occasion of World Fisheries Day, CFFA calls on the European Union to integrate the FAO Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale fisheries into all its policies that have an impact on this sector, particularly in the Blue Economy and Farm to Fork strategies and in its external action.

Small scale fisheries at risk: Madagascar signs destructive fishing agreements with Chinese investors

Small scale fisheries at risk: Madagascar signs destructive fishing agreements with Chinese investors

While negotiations between the European Union and Madagascar for a tuna fishing agreement are dragging on, Madagascar's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has signed two private agreement protocols inviting around 30 vessels to fish in Malagasy waters.

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement negotiations between the EU and Mauritania: staying on course

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement negotiations between the EU and Mauritania: staying on course

As a new round of negotiations between the EU and Mauritania is expected to start soon, this position paper recalls the demands of the Mauritanian artisanal fisheries sector, highlighting technical conditions, such as the access to octopus to be reserved for local artisanal fishers, the zoning for trawlers to be maintained, and landings of small pelagics to be kept. Governance issues are also key, such as transparency, especially regarding the activities of other foreign fleets; and the urgent need for the SFPA to contribute to regional management for shared stocks.

EU Farm to Fork Strategy: Raising the ambition on global fisheries aspects

EU Farm to Fork Strategy:  Raising the ambition on global fisheries aspects

On World Food Day (16 October) we publish this short brief, which reviews the recommendations of the EU Food Policy Coalition on the global aspects of the EU Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, underscoring that F2F largely ignores seafood production, and highlights EU trade, cooperation and imports aspects that are essential for sustainable external fisheries.

Making Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements’ evaluations more efficient

Making Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements’ evaluations more efficient

BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, CFFA and WWF publish a joint paper with recommendations to improve the process and the content of evaluations by including the assessment of impacts of the EU fleet on ecosystems, of the transparency and non-discrimination clause, the needs of women, the implementation of the social clause and the contribution to SDGs.

Why the current African Union’s blue economy strategy threatens small-scale fisheries

Why the current African Union’s blue economy strategy threatens small-scale fisheries

In a public communication, African artisanal fisheries professional organisations warn on the risk of investing in polluting industries for short-term gains as African governments try to kick start their economies in the aftermath of COVID pandemic.

EU-Liberia SFPA: what should a potential future protocol look like?

EU-Liberia SFPA: what should a potential future protocol look like?

In this position paper, CFFA comments on which resources could be accessed by the EU fleet in Liberia’s EEZ, on the need for more transparency and how the EU can positively contribute to Liberian fisheries governance.

10 priorities for the future of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements

10 priorities for the future of Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements

CFFA and six other European and African organisations and their networks publish a joint paper with recommendations to improve the sustainability of EU-African fishing arrangements, including transparency, compliance with European obligations, increased scientific knowledge and the rethinking of the financial support objectives.

Financial compensation, support for development and transparency, the key issues at stake in the negotiation of the EU-Madagascar SFPA

Financial compensation, support for development and transparency, the key issues at stake in the negotiation of the EU-Madagascar SFPA

The Government of Madagascar has made it clear that it expects to derive greater benefits from its tuna resources through higher financial compensation. If this compensation is coupled with well-directed sectoral support for local fisheries, this could help develop Madagascar's small-scale fishing sector, which provides thousands of jobs and is essential for food security.

Traditional fishing or small-scale maritime fishing in Madagascar: a state of play

Traditional fishing or small-scale maritime fishing in Madagascar: a state of play

The author highlights the enormous needs of traditional fishing, as well as the urgent problems of food security and stock depletion, but also proposes that improved resource management and aid present excellent opportunities for local development.

Local fisheries stakeholders react to the new EU-Seychelles SFPA and protocol

Local fisheries stakeholders react to the new EU-Seychelles SFPA and protocol

As the proposal is being discussed at the European Parliament PECH committee, FBOA asks for more transparency and participation throughout the whole agreement negotiation process and expresses the necessity to reduce FADs and supply vessels in the EEZ.

Amidst COVID-19 crisis, African artisanal fisheries are more than ever essential to feed the population

Amidst COVID-19 crisis, African artisanal fisheries are more than ever essential to feed the population

Through a micro-blog and the hashtag #covid_ssf and in collaboration with its partners, CFFA will publish news from African small-scale fisheries, the impacts of this crisis, and the measures authorities and fishing communities are implementing.