Tenure rights protect fishers and fishworkers’ secure access to the resources upon which they depend. Learn more about securing rights over a fishery and fishing ground and what systems can be used to protect those rights.

Resources

Marine Tenure and Small-Scale Fisheries: A Sourcebook on Good Practices and Emerging Themes

Marine Tenure and Small-scale Fisheries: A Sourcebook of Good Practices and Emerging Themes (Sourcebook) draws on findings from scholarly research, policy documents, development projects, and publications by development practitioners, researchers, and nongovernmental organizations to explore good practices and emerging themes in marine tenure and small-scale fisheries.
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Fisheries management
Tenure rights

Stakeholder and network analysis within the context of traditional governance and tenurial rights in the artisanal fisheries sector in the central region of Ghana

This report identifies stakeholders of the artisanal fishery in Ghana, conducts a network analysis of these stakeholders and provides recommendations on how these networks could be harnessed for the development of the artisanal fishery in the region.
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Co-management
Fisheries management
Tenure rights
Other resources & approaches
Capacity development

The traditional tenure rights in the clam fishery of the Volta Estuary.

This report examines traditional management and tenure arrangements in the clam fishery of the Volta river estuary and provides recommendations for ensuring the sustainability of the clam fishery, which is critical for local livelihoods and food security.
Science, knowledge & information gathering
Traditional and local ecological knowledge
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Co-management
Fisheries management
Tenure rights
Value chains & post harvest
Value add and processing
Human rights & gender equality
Gender in fisheries

Adaptive management of fisheries in response to climate change

This report aims to accelerate climate change adaptation implementation in fisheries management throughout the world. It showcases how flexibility can be introduced in the fisheries management cycle in order to foster adaptation, strengthen the resilience of fisheries, reduce their vulnerability to climate change, and enable managers to respond in a timely manner to the projected changes in the dynamics of marine resources and ecosystems.
Science, knowledge & information gathering
Science and assessments
Monitoring and reporting
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Fisheries management
Tenure rights
Disaster risks & climate change
Climate change

The need to establish fresh water and marine protected areas in Nigeria

This policy paper calls for the mapping out and creation of fresh water and marine protected areas in Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region. It outlines the need for and benefits of such areas, sources of inputs and steps in their establishment, and the associated legal institutional and policy frameworks. This paper can well be adapted and replicated for use across the Congo Basin and the Gulf of Guinea.
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Fisheries management
Tenure rights
Other resources & approaches

Towards gender-equitable small-scale fisheries governance and development

This document, Towards Gender-Equitable Small-Scale Fisheries – A handbook In support of the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (henceforth the “handbook”), was developed to support gender-equitable small-scale fisheries by enhancing the understanding of their gender dimensions, with a focus on the specific role and conditions of women in the small-scale fisheries sector.
Science, knowledge & information gathering
Traditional and local ecological knowledge
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Fisheries management
Tenure rights
Value chains & post harvest
Value add and processing
Market access
Human rights & gender equality
Gender in fisheries
Disaster risks & climate change
Climate change
Other resources & approaches
Capacity development
Participatory processes and stakeholder engagement

Legislating for sustainable small-scale fisheries

This document, Legislating for Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries – A guide and considerations for implementing aspects of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication in National Legislation, is a tool for States to strengthen their fisheries legislation in order to establish conditions for inclusive and sustainable small-scale fisheries development, taking into account the interrelatedness of social, economic and environmental sustainability, while focusing on marginalized groups.
Science, knowledge & information gathering
Traditional and local ecological knowledge
Monitoring and reporting
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Co-management
Fisheries management
Tenure rights
Illegal fishing and enforcement
Human rights & gender equality
Gender in fisheries
Other resources & approaches
Participatory processes and stakeholder engagement

Law and Governance Toolkit for Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries: Best Regulatory Practices

"This Toolkit presents a methodology for assessing the reform needs to strengthen SSF governance, along with examples of model regulatory language for the core governance elements."
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Co-management
Fisheries management
Tenure rights
Illegal fishing and enforcement
Social development & employment
Fisher and fishworker organizations
Other resources & approaches
Capacity development
Participatory processes and stakeholder engagement

Guía para fortalecer la gobernanza de la pesca en los territorios indígenas de Centroamérica

La presente guía ha sido desarrollada con los elementos brindados por lo líderes indígenas y pescadores indígenas por medio de la APICA y representantes de las instituciones estatales dedicadas a la desarrollo de la pesca en los países centroamericanos , siendo priorizados y consensuados por los representantes indígenas centroamericanos para valorar la gobernanza de la pesca indígena para la afirmación de la gestión territorial en función del crecimiento económico, la inclusión social y protección ambiental.
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Co-management
Fisheries management
Tenure rights
Indigenous rights
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