By Lena Hoover, EDF Small-Scale Fisheries Schneider Intern
The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) are a keystone instrument that outlines the principles and policies necessary to support small-scale fisheries worldwide. While many nations are interested in implementing the SSF guidelines and promoting sustainable development in their fisheries, the process can seem intimidating and difficult at the onset. Crafting a National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF) helps address this challenge.
Nations are encouraged by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to create NPOA-SSFs to serve as a blueprint for implementing the SSF guidelines. This process involves gathering input from stakeholders to identify challenges faced by SSFs in the country, exploring potential solutions, and collaboratively creating a plan for implementation. The FAO provides technical expertise and support to countries in this endeavor, with successful implementations in Tanzania and Namibia, and ongoing efforts in Madagascar, Malawi, Uganda, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
To gain deeper insight into this process, I’ve zeroed in on the work being done in the Philippines to advance the SSF guidelines through a NPOA, which was highlighted at this year’s SSF Summit in Rome. I had the privilege of interviewing two key individuals involved in this process: Ms. Gavina Tumbaga and Mr. Dennis Calvan. Ms. Tumbaga is from San Fernando City in the province of La Union, northwest of the Philippines' capital, Manila. She chairs San Fernando’s Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC) and serves as a fisherfolk representative to the national FARMC, the highest policy recommending body to the Philippine government. Mr. Calvan is the director of policy and government engagement at Rare and the NGO representative to the national FARMC. Both are also members of the National Technical Working Group (NTWG), which is responsible for developing and implementing the NPOA for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Philippines.
On the importance of developing a NPOA, Ms. Tumbaga says that it is a way to “lay out the direction of what we want to achieve” and decide how to address the concerns and issues surrounding fisheries in the Philippines. At the beginning of our conversation, she explained that women aren’t fully recognized in the fishery sector—something that inspired her to get involved and advocate for representation. Tumbaga expressed pride in the diversity that has been brought to NTWG discussions, stating, “all the stakeholders in the fisheries sectors were invited—the small scale, the marginalized sector, the woman, the indigenous people…” She underscores the necessity of including women in every aspect of decision-making, ideally in multiple roles.
As far as progress goes, Mr. Calvan noted that the NPOA is nearing finalization, following many consultations with local government units and fishing communities. Right now, a priority is defining the performance indicators for its implementation, an important factor for measuring progress. That said, developing an NPOA is not something that comes without challenges, as both Calvan and Tumbaga elucidate.
Something interesting that Calvan discussed was the difficulty of determining the scope of “small-scale,” as there’s no globally agreed-upon definition. The NTWG ultimately decided that the term “small-scale fisheries” should encompass the whole value chain, including those who are marginalized in fisheries and aquaculture. This seemingly minor detail is vital for ensuring the NPOA addresses all affected stakeholders. Additionally, Tumbaga talked about how it can be difficult to ensure necessary representation in decision-making due to time, money, and distance constraints. For example, many Indigenous people are from remote areas, complicating their participation. Thankfully, consistent advocacy has led the Philippine government to prioritize and invest in making sure delegates from all these communities are present.
With all their experience and familiarity in the field, Tumbaga and Calvan have valuable advice for representatives from other countries interested in developing a NPOA. Calvan says that one important tip is to be open-minded and value collaboration, explaining that “the issue on fisheries and aquaculture in the Philippines cannot be resolved by one organization or one government agency alone. It should be a common commitment.” Gavina’s message is another important one: that there must be political will to implement a NPOA-SSF. Government entities on both a local and national scale must recognize its importance and be willing to invest in these issues. She shares that a big part of this comes from relationship building and communication, saying “I visit government offices... I talk to them and bring the issues and concerns of our fisherfolk.” You must be persistent with it she says, “putting it into their minds that the Guidelines are really important to the sector.”
These conversations made it clear to me that developing and implementing a NPOA-SSF is a complex process that requires dedication and care from all those involved. However, by creating a specific and detailed framework with input from a range of stakeholders, the NPOA becomes crucial in ensuring the effective implementation of the SSF Guidelines and sustaining our fisheries in the long term.
I want to give a special thank you to Mr. Dennis Calvan and Ms. Gavina Tumbaga for taking the time to chat with me and share their invaluable insights. I’m also grateful to Ms. Briana Okuno and the Rare team for their support in making these conversations possible.