In pursuit of securing the rights of fishing communities – Food and Agriculture Organization

Report on Sustainable Fisheries Management and the Sustainable Development Goals

Integrating Ecosystem Health and Human Well-being for SDG 14

The long-term sustainability of fisheries is contingent upon the health and resilience of both fish stocks and their supporting ecosystems. This principle directly supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water). A holistic management framework, known as the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF), recognizes the intrinsic link between ecosystem health and human well-being. By managing fisheries in a way that considers environmental, social, economic, and cultural factors, the EAF framework contributes to:

• SDG 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems.
• SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Secure the livelihoods and food sources for populations dependent on aquatic resources.

Participatory Management as a Catalyst for Inclusive Development

The engagement of small-scale fishing communities in participatory management, or co-management, is a critical mechanism for achieving sustainable resource use and equitable governance. This approach empowers local stakeholders to contribute to the conservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems, aligning with several SDGs.

• SDG 14.b: Co-management provides a direct pathway to secure access rights for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): It establishes inclusive and participatory decision-making processes by giving fishers a voice in policy formulation.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Effective co-management frameworks ensure the active participation of women, as well as vulnerable and marginalized groups, in decisions affecting their livelihoods.

Core Recommendations from the SSF Guidelines for SDG Implementation

The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) provide a clear framework for action. Chapter 5B, focused on sustainable resource management, outlines key recommendations that directly support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

1. Promote Responsible Fisheries Management: The SSF Guidelines advocate for management systems that link the right to use a resource with the responsibility for its sustainable stewardship. This principle is fundamental to achieving the conservation and sustainable use targets within SDG 14.
2. Develop Participatory Governance Systems: The guidelines emphasize that all stakeholders have the right to be informed, consulted, and included in decision-making. This inclusive approach is essential for advancing SDG 5, SDG 10, and SDG 16 by ensuring equitable representation.
3. Implement Sustainable and Monitored Fishing Practices: States are encouraged to establish effective Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) systems to prevent overfishing and eliminate illegal and destructive practices. This directly addresses SDG 14.4, which calls for an end to overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The active support of small-scale fishers for such systems is vital for compliance and success.

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

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • The article’s core focus is on sustainable fisheries, the health of fish stocks, and the conservation of aquatic ecosystems. It explicitly mentions the need to keep “stocks of fish fished and the ecosystem they live in… healthy and resilient,” which is the central theme of SDG 14.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The text emphasizes the importance of ensuring “that both men and women participate in deciding on management measures affecting their livelihoods.” It also states that “Particular attention should be given to include women,” directly addressing the goal of empowering women and ensuring their participation in decision-making.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The article calls for the inclusion of “vulnerable and marginalized groups” in decision-making processes. This aligns with SDG 10’s aim to empower and promote the social and political inclusion of all, irrespective of their status.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The promotion of “participatory management,” “co-management,” and including stakeholders in “decision-making processes” relates directly to building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels, a key aspect of SDG 16.

5. SDG 1: No Poverty & SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • While not the primary focus, these are implicitly connected. The article mentions taking “all who depend on fish for food and livelihood into account.” Sustainable management of fisheries is crucial for securing the livelihoods and food source for small-scale fishing communities, thereby contributing to poverty reduction and food security.

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

1. Target 14.4

   • (By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices): The article directly supports this target by encouraging states to “prevent and stop all illegal and destructive fishing practices, avoid overfishing, and put in place systems for monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS).”

2. Target 14.2

   • (By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts): The text’s emphasis on the “Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF),” keeping ecosystems “healthy and resilient,” and the role of communities in “restoring, conserving and protecting aquatic resources and ecosystems” aligns with this target.

3. Target 14.b

   • (Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets): The entire article focuses on small-scale fishing communities. The promotion of co-management “gives voice to the fishers so they can express their needs and claims,” which is a foundational step for securing their access to resources.

4. Target 5.5

   • (Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life): The article’s specific call to “make sure that both men and women participate in deciding on management measures” and to give “particular attention… to include women” in decision-making processes directly reflects this target.

5. Target 16.7

   • (Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels): The concept of “participatory management” and “co-management” is a central theme. The statement that “All who have an interest in using the resource have the right to be informed, consulted and included in decision-making processes” is a clear articulation 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?

1. Indicator for Target 14.4

   • The article implies the need for measurement through its call to “avoid overfishing” and implement “systems for monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS).” This points towards Indicator 14.4.1: Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels, which is what MCS systems are designed to track.

2. Indicator for Target 14.2

   • The promotion of the “Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF)” as a “holistic approach to managing fisheries” directly implies the use of Indicator 14.2.1: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.

3. Indicator for Target 14.b

   • The article’s focus on empowering fishing communities through co-management and giving them a voice in policy formulation relates to Indicator 14.b.1: Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small-scale fisheries. The participatory frameworks discussed are a key part of this.

4. Indicator for Targets 5.5 and 16.7

   • The repeated calls for the inclusion of women, fishers, and marginalized groups in decision-making processes imply a need to measure their participation. This can be linked to indicators like Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments and Indicator 16.7.2: Proportion of population who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive. The article suggests measuring the effectiveness of participatory management by the level of inclusion of these specific groups in fisheries management bodies.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: fao.org