Information System on Small-scale Fisheries (ISSF)
is the first interactive global repository of small-scale fisheries, providing information on key characteristics of this sector in various locations around the world, as well as synthesized knowledge about their importance, contributions and potentials.
Through crowdsourcing tools, it invites people with information on different facets of small-scale fisheries to contribute data to help enhance overall understanding and global recognition of small-scale fisheries data. The goal of ISSF is to capture the key characteristics of small-scale fisheries in any given location across the ‘fish chain’ from aquatic ecosystem to plate, including the nature and type of fisheries and fishing activities, fishers’ relationships with fish buyers and money lenders, and the legal pluralism in the rules and norms governing fisheries. This system uses innovative ways to visualize information to help generate new knowledge and for effective communication with end- users, such as universities and policy makers, and provides a solid foundation for multi- level analysis of small-scale fisheries that will enable appropriate policy development and decision-making.
The ISSF was developed within the TBTI Working Group 1 and it was officially launched at the 2nd World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress that was held in September 21-26 in Merida, Mexico.
We encourage you to visit issf.toobigtoignore.net to learn more about what small-scale fisheries look like, what they are capable of, who’s doing research in small-scale fisheries, and which organizations support their viability.
