Traditional and local ecological knowledge are established through direct contact with the environment and can be handed down through generations. Learn more about site specific environmental knowledge acquired by indigenous peoples and local groups. 

Resources

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

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

Portraits of Change Video Series

This eight-part video series seeks to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change and other stressors on fishers, fish workers and fishing communities across the globe. These videos provide a firsthand account of the battles faced by fishers and fish workers as they are faced with declining fish populations, increasingly common extreme weather events and disruptions due to climate change, COVID-19 and other stressors.
Science, knowledge & information gathering
Science and assessments
Traditional and local ecological knowledge
Technology for fisheries
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Fisheries management
Disaster risks & climate change
Climate change
COVID-19

Pescadores en México y Cuba: Retos y oportunidades ante el cambio climático

Este libro da cuenta de los retos que pescadores y pescadoras de México y Cuba afrontan frente al cambio climático: el cambio en sus artes de pesca, el conocimiento que tienen sobre los cambios que han sufrido los ecosistemas y el clima –desde la perspectiva de varias generaciones atrás en contraste con la generación actual, así como los cambios climáticos locales que son periódicos, como “El Niño”-, de las formas de organización social, de la participación de las pescadoras en la ciencia ciudadana y también, de los cambios que como científicos y científicas hacemos a nuestros marcos teóricos y a las bases de datos para el análisis de especies y capturas. En fin, cada vez es más evidente que la multidisciplina es una necesidad creciente para entender los problemas complejos, y la relación entre cambio climático, pescadores-pescadoras y pesquerías no es la excepción. 
Science, knowledge & information gathering
Science and assessments
Traditional and local ecological knowledge
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Fisheries management
Human rights & gender equality
Gender in fisheries
Disaster risks & climate change
Climate change
Other resources & approaches
Participatory processes and stakeholder engagement

IUCN Guidelines for gathering of fishers' knowledge for policy development and applied use

"These voluntary IUCN Guidelines for gathering of fishers’ knowledge for policy development and applied use (the “Fishers’ Knowledge Policy Development Guidelines”) provide much needed practical and theoretical guidance on what and how gathering Fishers’ Knowledge can be utilized in policy development and in society today. Fishers’ Knowledge includes indigenous and traditional knowledge and experienced persons who have been involved in a fishery and community over an extended period of time. "
Science, knowledge & information gathering
Traditional and local ecological knowledge
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Fisheries management
Human rights & gender equality
Indigenous rights

Traditional knowledge Use for the Sustainable Management of Marine and Fishing Resources

This study offers systematization of three experiences in Central America where traditional knowledge has been used to improve marine spatial planning and frame a new policy oriented towards human rights approaches to fisheries and has given better tools for the governance of community-managed protected areas.
Science, knowledge & information gathering
Traditional and local ecological knowledge
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Co-management
Fisheries management

Reserved Parking: Marine Reserves and Small-scale Fishing Communities: A collection of articles from Samudra Report by ICSF, 2008

This dossier puts together a collection of articles from the pages of SAMUDRA Report, the triannual journal of ICSF. The articles show that conservation and livelihoods are closely intertwined, and that top-down, non participatory models of conservation can be counterproductive. Despite being poor and powerless, fishing and coastal communities can be powerful allies in conservation efforts, given their longstanding dependence on natural resources and their traditional ecological knowledge systems. As the examples in the dossier reveal, it is possible for fishing communities to protect and conserve the environment, while continuing with sustainable fishing operations.
Science, knowledge & information gathering
Traditional and local ecological knowledge
Fisheries policy, governance & management
Co-management
Fisheries management
Other resources & approaches
Participatory processes and stakeholder engagement
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