Implementation dialogue on small-scale and coastal fisheries with Commissioner Costas Kadis – European Commission

Report on the Implementation Dialogue for Small-Scale and Coastal Fisheries (SSCF)

Introduction and Strategic Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

An Implementation Dialogue concerning Small-Scale and Coastal Fisheries (SSCF) is scheduled, featuring the participation of Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Ocean. The event will convene policymakers, stakeholders, and fisheries sector representatives to assess the implementation of European Union policies. A primary objective is to shape future strategies for the sector, directly supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water) by ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. The dialogue specifically addresses Target 14.b, which calls for providing access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.

Socio-Economic and Environmental Context of SSCF

Small-scale and coastal fisheries are integral to the socio-economic and cultural viability of Europe’s coastal regions, contributing significantly to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). However, the sector faces considerable challenges that threaten its long-term sustainability and its capacity to contribute to these goals. These challenges include:

• Climate Change: Impacts on marine ecosystems and fish stocks, directly relating to SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• Competition for Coastal Space: Increased pressure from other maritime industries.
• Market Pressures: Economic volatility and competition affecting livelihoods.
• Limited Access: Constraints on access to fishing opportunities and financial resources.

These factors expose structural vulnerabilities that jeopardize the sector’s role in delivering sustainable fisheries, potentially undermining progress towards SDG 1 (No Poverty) within these communities.

Key Thematic Areas for Discussion

The dialogue will concentrate on two principal areas critical for advancing the SDG agenda within the SSCF sector:

1. Evaluation of EU Legislative and Financial Frameworks: This involves a practical review of existing instruments to identify implementation bottlenecks and best practices. The goal is to improve governance for sustainable fisheries in line with SDG 14. Frameworks under review include:
   • Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation
   • The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)
   • The revised Control Regulation
2. Adaptation, Resilience, and Economic Diversification: This theme explores pathways for SSCF to navigate contemporary challenges and transition towards greater sustainability. Key focus points include:
   • Energy Transition: Aligning the sector with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
   • Strengthening Resilience: Enhancing the capacity of coastal communities to adapt to environmental and economic shocks.
   • Livelihood Diversification: Promoting sustainable economic activities that support SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Objectives and Anticipated Outcomes

The dialogue aims to foster an open exchange to build a collective understanding of current challenges and opportunities. This collaborative approach embodies the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The anticipated outcomes are:

• A shared understanding of current implementation gaps in policies supporting SSCF.
• The identification of concrete follow-up actions to address these gaps.
• Strengthened cooperation and awareness of SSCF issues among all EU stakeholders, reinforcing the partnership needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
  
  Explanation: The article highlights that small-scale and coastal fishers (SSCF) are “essential to the economic, social, and cultural fabric of Europe’s coastal communities.” It also points out their challenges, including “limited access to… finance,” and discusses the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) as a financial framework, directly linking to the support of small-scale enterprises.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
  
  Explanation: The article explicitly states that small-scale fishers face “growing challenges linked to climate change.” One of the dialogue’s focus points is how these fisheries can “strengthen their resilience” and adapt, which aligns with building adaptive capacity to climate-related challenges.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Target 14.b: Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.
  
  Explanation: This is the central theme of the article. It focuses on “Small-Scale and Coastal Fisheries (SSCF)” and the challenges they face, such as “market pressures, and limited access to fishing opportunities.” The dialogue aims to address these issues to ensure the “long-term viability” of the sector.
• Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans…
  
  Explanation: The article mentions the role of EU legislative frameworks like the “Common Fisheries Policy Regulation” and the “revised Control Regulation.” These policies are designed to regulate fishing activities to ensure sustainability, which is the core of this target.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.
  
  Explanation: The dialogue’s objective is to “discuss the state of implementation of EU policies and initiatives supporting SSCF, and to help shape future approaches.” This involves identifying “bottlenecks, good practices, and opportunities for improvement” in legislative frameworks, which is a direct effort to enhance policy coherence.
• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships…
  
  Explanation: The event described is an “Implementation dialogue” that “will bring together policymakers, stakeholders, and representatives from the fisheries sector.” This multi-stakeholder approach aims to “build a shared understanding” and foster “strengthened cooperation and awareness,” embodying the spirit of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 14.b: The degree of implementation of legal/regulatory/policy/institutional frameworks which recognize and protect access rights for small-scale fisheries.
  
  Explanation: The article implies this indicator by focusing the dialogue on “how EU legislative and financial frameworks are being applied in practice.” Measuring the effectiveness and application of policies like “Article 17 of the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation” and the “European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF)” for SSCF would serve as a direct indicator of progress.
• Indicator for Target 13.1: The number of countries and local governments that have adopted and implemented local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national strategies.
  
  Explanation: While not a direct measure, the article implies a related indicator by discussing how SSCF can “adapt to the energy transition, strengthen their resilience, and diversify their livelihoods.” The development and adoption of specific strategies and action plans at the community or sector level to achieve this resilience would be a relevant measure of progress.
• Indicator for Target 17.16: The number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals.
  
  Explanation: The article describes the dialogue itself as a mechanism for progress. The “identification of follow-up actions” and the establishment of “strengthened cooperation” resulting from this multi-stakeholder dialogue can be seen as a qualitative indicator of progress in building effective partnerships.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu