Resources

A report by The High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition

This report addresses a frequently overlooked but extremely important part of world food and nutrition security: the role and importance of fish in seeking food and nutrition security for all. Fisheries and aquaculture have often been arbitrarily separated from other parts of the food and agricultural systems in food security studies, debates and policy-making.

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 small-scale fisheries and energy nexus

This publication introduces the current situation and proposes a way forward with regard to the use of renewable energy in small-scale fisheries. It provides general guidance for decision-makers and development specialists on the choices, benefits and challenges related to renewable energy use and uptake in small-scale fisheries.

Human rights-based approach to the implementation and monitoring of the SSF Guidelines - Background Paper

The paper aims to explain and demonstrate what human rights-based approach (HRBA) means in relation to the various thematic areas and actors addressed in the SSF Guidelines.

Putting the Voluntary Guidelines on Tenure and the Voluntary Guidelines on Small-scale Fisheries into Practice: A Learning Guide for Civil Society Organizations

This learning guide has been designed specifically to give civil society and grassroots organizations a deeper understanding of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT) and the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). The aim is to enable the members of these organizations and their constituents, especially small-scale fishers and fishworkers, to use the VGGT and SSF Guidelines meaningfully and effectively to improve the governance of tenure in their respective countries.

Financing small-scale fisheries in Thailand

This policy brief aims to inform financial institutions in Thailand about the opportunities and challenges associated with financing small-scale fisheries. It outlines the key findings from a supply and-demand analysis of financial services that was carried out in 2021 among small-scale fishers, fisherfolk organizations and financial service providers in Thailand.

The relationship between the governance of small-scale fisheries and the realization of the right to adequate food in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals

This conceptual-level information note seeks to highlight the human rights aspects of the goals and targets relating to food security and small-scale fisheries (SSF), particularly from the perspective of the right to adequate food, and to demonstrate how this interrelationship plays out in the monitoring mechanisms established by relevant instruments.

Blue finance guidance notes: Aquaculture insurance for small-scale producers

This brochure describes why aquaculture insurance is important for the sustainable development and management of the sector. It discusses the benefits of aquaculture insurance and challenges in making aquaculture insurance accessible to small-scale producers.

Blue finance guidance notes: Microfinance for small-scale fisheries

This brochure describes why microfinance is important for small-scale fisheries and aquaculture and gives insight in microfinance and how it works.

Financing fisheries in Africa: Case studies from the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia

This brochure presents two case studies of institutions successfully providing financial services to small-scale fisheries in Africa. The two case studies were identified during a regional market demand and supply survey of financial service provision to small scale fishers, carried out by the African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA) and the Global network for capacity building to increase access of small-scale fisheries to financial services (CAFI-SSF).

Financing fisheries in Africa: Financial services provision to small-scale fisheries

This brochure presents the main findings of a survey held among financial services providers (FSPs) in Africa about their supply of services to small-scale fishers and aquaculture producers.

A good practice guide for ethical and inclusive communications involving small-scale fisheries

This guide provides practical and simple guidance on how to communicate about small-scale fisheries in an inclusive, responsible and ethical way that respects the 108 million rights holders who depend on small-scale fisheries for food and income. By promoting positive narratives about small-scale fisheries and following good communication practices, we can all contribute to improving food security and nutrition, reducing poverty, and supporting a thriving subsector.

Lessons learned and public policy recommendations on adaptation to climate change in artisanal fisheries and small-scale aquaculture in Chile [Policy brief].

This document is part of the project “Strengthening the adaptive capacity to climate change in the fisheries and aquaculture sector of Chile. This document presents the primary results and innovative aspects of the project, in keeping with its three main components: strengthening of public and private institutional capacities; improvement of the adaptive capacity of artisanal fisheries and small-scale aquaculture; and strengthening knowledge and awareness about climate change in fishing and aquaculture communities

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).

Photostory: The small-scale fisheries and aquaculture sector in Asia: Small in scale, big in value

This photostory book celebrates the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (IYAFA 2022) by showing the diversity of the small-scale fisheries and aquaculture sector in Asia, as home to the majority of the world's small-scale fishers, fish farmers, and fish workers.

Women and men in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture in Asia

Fisheries and aquaculture contribute to food security and livelihoods of millions of people in Asia. Both women and men are engaged in fisheries and aquaculture. In the past ten years, many actors have worked on raising awareness on women’s contribution as well as promoting gender equality in fisheries and aquaculture. This study aims to consolidate the efforts to date to provide recommendations for action and future studies.

Small-Scale Fisheries and the Human Right to Adequate Food

This handbook has been developed to support the joint implementation of the SSF Guidelines and the Right to Food Guidelines through an integrated approach and to increase policy coherence and uptake. The document provides an overview of the contents of these voluntary guidelines and identifies potential synergies. It also explains the human rights-based approach and discusses some crucial areas, with special attention to the specific roles and responsibilities of key actors.

A policy and legal diagnostic tool for sustainable small-scale fisheries

This diagnostic tool advances the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) through policy and legal frameworks. By using this tool, users are able to recognize the national policy and legal instruments that are relevant to small-scale fisheries in a country, consistent with the SSF Guidelines.

Inclusive social development and decent work for enhancing small-scale fisheries resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic

This document is part of a series of briefs framed under the provisions of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). The briefs aim to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihoods and sustainable development of the small-scale fisheries sector and provide examples of coping strategies.

Building resilience to climate change and disaster risks for small-scale fisheries communities

This guide presents a perspective on implementing the climate change and disaster risk elements of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines), with special attention to protecting human rights.