Resources

Blue finance guidance notes - Insurance for small-scale fisheries

This brochure describes why insurance is important for the sustainable development and management of small-scale fisheries. It discusses the benefits and challenges of insurance, as well as options for insurance provision to small-scale fishers and what insurance for small-scale fisheries looks like.

The rights of Indigenous peoples in the context of fisheries and aquaculture

This brief examines the respect, protection and fulfilment of Indigenous peoples’ rights to marine resources, marine territories and coastal land, and give guidance for indigenous peoples on what can be claimed in relation to specific human rights.

A Human Rights-Based Approach to Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture

A fact sheet on a human rights-based approach to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture

Sector-wide Human Rights Impact Assessment (SWIA) in small-scale artisanal fishing communities in Barguna and Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh

This report presents the findings of a sector wide human rights impact assessment (SWIA)1 carried out in small-scale artisanal fishing communities in Barguna and Cox’s Bazar Districts in Bangladesh during 2019-2020.

Direct-to-Consumer Strategies for Seafood: The Landscape, Challenges, and Opportunities since COVID-19

This report categorizes the different types of direct-to-consumer [D2C] models that currently exist within the seafood sector, and evaluates their respective strengths and weaknesses, the enabling conditions important for certain models to thrive, as well as barriers to scale and growth. The goal is to provide insight into how these models may affect the way wild capture seafood is bought and sold around the world, and in particular, the impact this may have on social and environmentally responsible seafood initiatives.

Small-scale fisheries and sustainable development

Key findings from the Illuminating Hidden Harvests report - This brief presents the main results from the Illuminating Hidden Harvests (IHH) report, providing new, clearer insights to support the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

IPNLF Human Interest Stories: Susana Sousa

Nestled in the hills of Sao Jorge, Azores, the Santa Catarina Tuna Canning Factory employs over 120 women to process, can and distribute locally caught one-by-one tuna. Learn more about the work of Susana Sousa, an employee of the factory.

Post-harvest practices for empowering women in small-scale fisheries in Africa

Post-harvest challenges faced by small-scale fisheries stakeholders have been the focus of numerous projects, programmes and investments in Africa. Many of these initiatives have aimed to benefit women, who often dominate processing and trade activities.

This report provides a summary of key findings from a desk review and primary data research that has aimed to identify successful post-harvest initiatives related to infrastructure design and management, improved post-harvest technology, value addition and access to finance.

Advancing Gender in the Environment: Gender in Fisheries – A Sea of Opportunity

This guide provides an overview of the unique roles and contributions women make in the wild-caught fisheries sector. The guide also explains how persistent gender inequalities limit women’s economic empowerment, and increased risks of gender-based violence negatively impact the potential of women to thrive and contribute towards strong economies.

Tackling child labour in fisheries and aquaculture

This background paper presents the challenges, opportunities, and recommendations to tackle child labour in fisheries and aquaculture.

Energising local economies: experiences of solar start-ups in Kenya's small-scale fishing and agriculture sectors

How are enterprises and NGOs in rural Kenya addressing poor people’s needs for energy that helps them earn a living? This paper looks at what new solar start-ups are doing to promote productive energy use in the fishing, agriculture and service sectors. It asks what specific productive energy needs the projects are targeting — such as cold storage for fish caught in Lake Victoria — and how they address the various barriers that prevent communities from fulfilling those needs. The six case studies include microgrids, irrigation pumps and multi-service energy hubs.

FishCounts: increasing the visibility of small-scale fisheries in Cambodia's national planning

This report explores the current state of Cambodia’s fisheries and the data that would be needed to develop such a set of accounts. It considers the country’s existing statistical information and monitoring efforts, and where the gaps, inconsistencies and overlaps lie. It proposes a phased approach to build on what already exists to create greater visibility for the contribution of small-scale fisheries to the national economy and their role in developing sustainable fishing and aquaculture in the face of growing demands and climate change.

Myanmar's artisanal hilsa fisheries. How much are they really worth?

This study estimates the economic value of artisanal hilsa fisheries in Myanmar, using artisanal income data to estimate use value and a benefit transfer to estimate non-use value.

Making sense of wild seafood supply chains

A primer for resource managers, scientists, fishers, and other industry players seeking to harness the power of supply chains to ignite sustainable management in artisanal fisheries.

Kokoly

Against a backdrop of extreme poverty, personal loss and a marine environment changing beyond her control, Kokoly lives on a knife edge. Filmed over four months, Kokoly follows a traditional Vezo fisherwoman Madame Kokoly - as she reflects on her live experiences and carries out her daily routine in and around the coastal waters of southwest Madagascar.

Resiliencia de las comunidades pesqueras de México ante COVID-19 Impactos económicos y sociales

Para contribuir a los esfuerzos nacionales y globales, Comunidad y Biodiversidad, A. C. (COBI) ha iniciado un proceso de consulta con pescadores en ocho entidades federativas de México para conocer los impactos económicos y sociales de la pandemia. Así como, los roles del estado y la distribución de apoyos, los efectos en la salud, las soluciones locales aplicadas por los pescadores, la igualdad de género, el uso de tecnología y el impacto ambiental. Este primer reporte refleja los impactos económicos y sociales inmediatos del COVID-19 y concluye con una serie de recomendaciones expresadas por el sector pesquero.

How is COVID-19 affecting the fisheries and aquaculture food sytems

The full range of activities required to deliver fish and fish products from production to the final consumer is subject to indirect impacts of the pandemic through new sanitary measures, changing consumer demands, market access or logistical problems related to transportation and border restrictions. This in turn has a damaging effect on fishers and fish farmers’ livelihoods, as well as on food security and nutrition for populations that rely heavily on fish for animal protein and essential micronutrients.

This policy brief reviews on going challenges and proposes measures to protect production and income of the sector and the most vulnerable, as well as maintain operations and support the supply chain.

The Silent Wave - A fisheries cooperative in India responds to Covid-19

Shot during the peak of the first wave of Covid-19 in India, this documentary tells the story of how the fishermen and women of Kollam coped with the lockdown and the widespread disruptions in their fisheries. Responding to the crisis, the local fisheries cooperative introduced a major change to the prevalent auction system. The innovation was aimed at both ensuring the safety of the coastal fishing community, and correcting the power imbalance between fishers and traders. But the new system had some unforeseen consequences.

Guía práctica para la elaboración de proyectos comunitarios

El diseño de la guía práctica para la elaboración de proyectos tiene como objetivo el fortalecimiento de capacidades de las comunidades pesqueras. Esta herramienta propicia la autogestión de proyectos de conservación y pesca sostenible. A su vez se busca fomentar la corresponsabilidad en el manejo y gestión de recursos económicos en las comunidades para que éstos sean dirigidos a la resiliencia y la sostenibilidad, así como a la transferencia del conocimiento.

Guide to improved dried shrimp production

This guide is for dried-shrimp producers, buyers and those involved in extension services. The aim is to describe good processing, handling and hygiene practices that will help producers maximize the value and income from dried shrimp, meet required national standards and access new and high-value markets.

Post-harvest losses in small-scale fisheries: Case studies in five sub-Saharan African countries

This regional programme began in October 2006 and lasted 18 months. It aimed to build on past initiatives and develop tools for practical loss assessment in artisanal fisheries. The programme provided capacity building for fishery officers in qualitative and quantitative fish loss assessments methods, planned support, and supervised the implementation of loss assessment studies in five sub-Saharan African countries (Ghana, Kenya, Mali, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda).