Small-Scale Fishers: Shaping a Sustainable Future – Oceana | Protecting the World’s Oceans

Report on the Role of Small-Scale Fisheries in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction: Aligning Small-Scale Fisheries with the 2030 Agenda

This report analyzes the critical role of small-scale fisheries (SSF) in the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Small-scale fishers, who constitute over 90% of the global fishing workforce, are integral to food security, economic stability, and marine conservation. Their activities directly impact numerous SDGs, most notably SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 1 (No Poverty), and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). Acknowledging and supporting this sector is fundamental to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

2.0 Socio-Economic Contributions to Global Sustainability Targets

The socio-economic impact of small-scale fisheries is a cornerstone of sustainable development in coastal communities worldwide.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The sector is a primary source of employment and livelihood for millions of people. It underpins local economies, providing income that is essential for alleviating poverty and fostering economic growth within coastal regions.
• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Small-scale fisheries are a vital source of nutritious food, supplying approximately half of the world’s aquatic food for direct human consumption. This contribution is critical for ensuring food security and improving nutrition, particularly in developing nations.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Women are significantly involved throughout the SSF value chain, including post-harvest processing and sales. Empowering the SSF sector contributes to the economic empowerment of women and promotes gender equality in these communities.

3.0 Environmental Stewardship and Contribution to SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

Small-scale fisheries are often custodians of marine ecosystems, employing practices that align with the objectives of SDG 14.

• Sustainable Practices: Compared to industrial fishing, SSF typically utilize more selective fishing gear and methods, resulting in a lower environmental impact, reduced bycatch, and less damage to marine habitats. This directly supports the sustainable management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems (SDG Target 14.2).
• Combating Overfishing: The localized nature of SSF fosters a deep-rooted interest in the long-term health of fish stocks. Supporting these fisheries is a key strategy to effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing (SDG Target 14.4).

4.0 Systemic Challenges Impeding SDG Progress

Despite their importance, small-scale fisheries face significant threats that undermine their viability and hinder the achievement of related SDGs.

• Competition with Industrial Fleets: SSF are often in direct competition with large-scale industrial fishing operations, which frequently receive substantial government subsidies. This practice contributes to overcapacity and illegal fishing, directly conflicting with SDG Target 14.6 (prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies).
• Policy and Governance Gaps: The sector often suffers from a lack of recognition in national and international policy, marginalizing fishers from decision-making processes that affect their livelihoods and the marine resources they depend on.
• Climate Change Impacts: Coastal communities and fisheries are on the front lines of climate change, facing threats from rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and shifting fish populations, which jeopardizes progress on SDGs 1, 2, and 14.

5.0 Policy Recommendations for Enhanced SDG Attainment

To leverage the potential of small-scale fisheries for achieving the SDGs, targeted policy interventions are required.

1. Prioritize SSF in Marine Governance: Governments must formally recognize the rights of small-scale fishers and ensure their inclusion in the co-management of coastal marine resources, aligning with principles of SDG 14 and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
2. Redirect Harmful Subsidies: Financial support should be shifted away from large-scale, destructive industrial fleets and toward supporting sustainable practices and infrastructure within the small-scale sector, directly addressing SDG Target 14.6.
3. Promote Responsible Consumption: Enhance traceability and transparency in seafood supply chains to empower consumers to support sustainably sourced products from small-scale fisheries, contributing to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
4. Strengthen Data and Monitoring: Invest in data collection specific to the SSF sector to better inform policies aimed at ensuring both the ecological sustainability of fish stocks and the socio-economic well-being of fishing communities.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article on Small-Scale Fisheries

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

The article on the role of small-scale fishers in shaping a sustainable future connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis reveals a strong link to the following goals:

• SDG 1: No Poverty: The article emphasizes that small-scale fisheries are a “vital source of income and livelihoods for millions,” directly linking the sector’s health to poverty alleviation in coastal communities.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: It highlights that these fisheries are “essential for food security,” providing a primary source of animal protein to billions of people, particularly in developing nations.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The article acknowledges the crucial role of women, especially in the “post-harvest sector – processing, trading, and selling fish,” suggesting that supporting the entire value chain promotes gender equality.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: By focusing on sustainable livelihoods and income generation, the article connects the viability of small-scale fisheries to providing long-term, decent work.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article discusses the marginalization of small-scale fishers in the face of competition from industrial fleets and advocates for policies like exclusive fishing zones to protect their rights and reduce inequality.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: This is the central theme. The entire article revolves around the sustainable use of marine resources, ending overfishing, and protecting marine ecosystems, which are core objectives of SDG 14.

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

Based on the issues and solutions discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 14.b: Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets. This is the most explicitly addressed target. The article repeatedly calls for securing tenure rights and establishing exclusive fishing zones to protect small-scale fishers from industrial fleets and guarantee their access to resources.
2. Target 14.4: Effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and destructive fishing practices. The article’s core argument is that supporting small-scale fishers, who often use less destructive methods, and protecting them from industrial overfishing is key to restoring fish stocks and achieving sustainable management.
3. Target 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers…including…fishers. The article advocates for policies that would enhance the economic viability and income of small-scale fishers, who are classified as small-scale food producers.
4. Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions. By securing livelihoods and providing a stable source of income, the sustainable management of small-scale fisheries directly contributes to reducing poverty in coastal communities.
5. Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources. The article’s recognition of women’s roles in post-harvest activities implies a need to support and formalize their work, thereby giving them greater access to and control over economic resources.

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

The article does not explicitly mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several metrics that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 14.b: The article implies the use of Indicator 14.b.1 (Progress by countries in the degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small-scale fisheries). Progress would be measured by the number of countries establishing and enforcing exclusive fishing zones for small-scale fishers and formalizing their tenure rights, as advocated in the text.
• Indicator for Target 14.4: The article’s focus on ending overfishing and restoring fish stocks points to Indicator 14.4.1 (Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels). The health of fish populations in areas managed by or for small-scale fishers would be a direct measure of success.
• Indicators for Targets 1.2 and 2.3: The article implies measuring progress through economic and food security metrics. These could include the average income of small-scale fishing households and the level of food security or fish consumption in coastal communities that depend on these fisheries.
• Indicator for Target 5.a: Progress could be measured by the percentage of women participating in fisheries co-management bodies and the change in income levels for women working in the post-harvest sector, which are implied by the article’s focus on their role.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: oceana.org