SSF Open House centers around the ‘Life and livelihoods’, the official theme of the 2021 World Oceans Week (WOW). Join us for a week long series of online events as we bring attention to the importance of small-scale fisheries, celebrate their contributions, and facilitate a dialogue about an inclusive, equitable and just development of the ocean. Add your voice to these discussions and help us shape the upcoming International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture and the 4th World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress.
Check out the event proceedings
Program
Livelihood and food security are basic human rights and a priority area for remote, rural and marginalized urban communities grappling with the complex issues of poverty, unsustainable food systems and climate change impacts. Social and economic wellbeing and food security are tied to SDG 2, which focuses on achieving “zero hunger’. Given that the lives and livelihoods of so many people living in coastal communities depend on the SSF sector, this critical lifeline provides the main source of animal protein for millions around the world. To shed light on this important topic, researchers, intergovernmental and environmental organizations, and SSF communities will be sharing perspectives on the socio-economic dimensions of SSF through interactive panel discussions, photos, music, art, interview clips, live webinars, and video clips, among others.
Youth disengagement and gender inequality undermine the social resiliency and economic viability of the SSF sector. Despite the critical role played by female fishers along the entire value chain, their contributions have historically been unrecognized, undervalued and overlooked, and their work underpaid because of gendered socio-cultural norms. With the turning of the tide towards social equity and inclusion, there is a greater emphasis on gender mainstreaming and amplifying the voices of women and youth through participatory approaches and empowerment. Sessions under this theme will showcase initiatives that address gender inequalities and youth disengagement in fisheries, through interviews, presentations, videos, photovoice and transmedia workshop and storytelling, and explore a diversity of topics that relates to gender equity, human rights, female fishers’ contribution, and youth engagement.
SSF are known for their inherent ability to cope with change. Much can be learned about how SSF navigate their lives around change, and how much more can be done to strengthen their capacity and resilience, in order for them to be less vulnerable and more viable, especially in time of crisis. Throughout the day, experiences and stories about SSF in several countries in the Global South and North will be shared, highlighting practices, responses and initiatives to enhance the resilience of coastal communities and small-scale fishers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change impacts. Discussion about how to make 2022 - the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture, an unprecedented opportunity to support a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future for SSF will also take place.
Justice and equity are crosscutting issues in SSF, requiring attention and actions at all levels, from SSF communities, grassroots organizations, and research communities, as well as national governments, regional governing bodies, and international partners. Under this theme, the sessions will explore Indigenous tenurial rights, rights-based SSF governance, shock-responsive social protection systems, challenges and barriers to SSF governance, Blue Justice and governance transition and success stories of improved management practices. Through candid conversations, storytelling, and interactive discussions, perspectives from governments, workers union, local fishers, trader-women, civil society organizations, academia and the private sector will be shared, with the aim towards understanding the problems and finding innovative solutions to address the root causes of injustice and inequity affecting SSF around the world.
Situating SSF in today’s sustainability discourse requires creative thinking and novel capacity building approaches that would help prepare SSF communities, governments and all relevant stakeholder groups for the transition. The sessions will showcase best practices in capacity building in the SSF sector from around the world, focusing for instance on adaptive management practices, new positive narratives, inclusive and ethical communication, virtual pedagogy, blended finance approaches, along with modern tools and technological platform to support SSF. An abundance of thought-provoking stories and intriguing cutting-edge content from around the world will be delivered through keynote speeches, plenary presentations, short films, live webinars, videos, and facilitated discussions. There will also be opportunities to connect and build local, national and regional networks to mobilize support for SSF.
Photo credit [event card]: Romeo Saldívar-Lucio. "Artisanal fishing in the African Coast of the Indian Ocean. Child walking in low tide with fishes captured in shallow waters in front of Unguja Ukuu, Zanzibar, Tanzania." 2019.
