SSF Guidelines

The SSF Guidelines cluster aims to support the implementation process through a methodological, analytical and descriptive approach by documenting and analyzing experiences of implementation currently taking place and by providing inputs to facilitate implementation.

Our aim is to illustrate how implementation processes are conducted, where, and by whom, and whether governments around the world are ready to implement them. If the response to the latter is no, we are also interested in addressing “why”. Important questions for this cluster include therefore: to what extent national fishery policies correspond to the principles and guidance provided by the SSF Guidelines? What is the gap between the legal and policy frameworks of the states and the SSF Guidelines proposed lines of action? How can the SSF Guidelines be inserted within national regulatory, legal and policy frameworks, considering the current situation for SSF?

The final outcome of this exercise would be a better understanding of elements of conducive environment for the SSF Guidelines through implementation research as well as a collection of good practices. Additionally, this cluster will propose indicators to monitor progress of the implementation around the world. All these products will be supported by interactive instruments, including an “interactive implementation map” which will be available within the information system platform on the TBTI website. Ideally, a multi-language (i.e., English, Spanish, and French) interface of the instruments used (e.g. questionnaires) and results (e.g. research briefs) obtained through this initiative will also be made available within the TBTI Information System on Small-Scale Fisheries (ISSF).

We call on all individuals or institutions, including universities, research institutes and community-based organizations interested in contributing to this exciting thematic cluster by actively participating in the generation of these outcomes. Since TBTI can only provide seed funding to support basic activities in the cluster, it is important to stress that the COFI members, when endorsing the SSF Guidelines, have committed themselves to provide research funding to the sector (paragraph 11.9). This is something that stakeholders may need to remind them of.

More information and guidance about how to take part in this initiative and how to contribute is available in the “Concept Note”. For more information about the opportunities and obstacles for implementation of SSF Guidelines, be sure to read the recent article on this topic written by Prof. Svein Jentoft. If you would like to get involved in the cluster, please contact us at toobigtoignore@mun.ca. 

TBTI webinar series on SSF Guidelines: Walking the talk for SSF Guidelines: Role of research

The SSF Guidelines are available in the following languages:

• Arabic Bengali Burmese Chinese (Simplified) English French Hindi Indonesian Japanese Oriya Sinhala Spanish Swahili Portuguese Russian Tamil Telugu Thai

An at-a-glance version of the SSF Guidelines is available in the following languages:

• English French Spanish

1. ICSF. (2016). National Workshop on Capacity-building for the Implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines). March 21-22 2016. New Delhi, India.

2. ICSF. (2016). Social relations and dynamics shaping the implementation of the SSF Guidelines in South Africa ICSF 2016.

3. ICSF. (2015). Workshop to introduce the FAO voluntary guidelines for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries in the context of food security and poverty eradication (VG-SSF) in Tanzania. August 17-18, 2015. Bagamoyo, Tanzania

4. FAO. (2015). Near Summary Conclusions and Recommendations of the Near East and North Africa Regional  Consultation Workshop: Towards the implementation of the Voluntary  Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries withing the Context of Food security and Poverty Eradication. December 7-10, 2015. Muscat, Oman.

5. FAO. (2015). Summary Conclusions and Recommendations of the South Asia FAO-BOBLME Regional Consultation on the Implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security. November  23-26, 2015. Colombo, Sri Lanka.

6. FAO. (2015). Conclusions of the East Africa Consultation Workshop on improving small-scale fisheries in the context of food security and poverty eradication. September 15-18, 2015. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

7. FAO. (2015). Summary Conclusions and Recommendations of the South East Asia Regional Consultation Workshop on the Implementation of the Voluntary Guideliens for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication. August 24-27, 2015. Ramada Bintang Bali Resort, Indonesia.

8. Shenoy, S. (2015). Report of the ICSF-BOBLME India (East Coast) workshop: Implementing the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). 6 – 7 March, 2015. Chennai, India.

9. Metzner, R., and Franz, N. (2015). SSF Guidelines: Vital momentum for small-scale fishers. Rural 21. The international journal for rural development. 49(3), 20-21.

10. FAO. (2015). Towards the implementation of the SSF Guidelines: Proceedings of the Workshop on the Development of a Global Assistance Programme in Support of the Implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication. December 8, 2014. Rome, Italy.

11. The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF). (2014). Towards Socially Just and Sustainable Fisheries: ICSF Workshop on Implementing the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). 21 to 24 July 2014 Puducherry, India.

12. National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) & the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF). (2011). Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries: Towards FAO Guidelines on Marine and Inland Small-scale Fisheries. 19-21 September, 2011. Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Tracking of the guidelines implementation

TBTI has developed a layer in the Information System on Small-Scale Fisheries that aims to capture information around the world related to the implementation of the guidelines (i.e. who’s doing what, where and when related to the guidelines). Interactive world map shows where the activities take place and where more efforts may be required. Please help us populate the database and track the progress of the guidelines implementation.

 SSF profiles

One of the main commitments of TBTI is to make information about SSF comprehensive and available to everyone. The SSF profile in ISSF is developed with this in mind. Currently, ISSF is running the SSF profiles drive to complete the 200 profiles. We would like to encourage all cluster members to help with this task by completing the fillable form and email it to toobigtoignore@mun.ca. We don’t expect that you will have all the required information. Please consult colleagues or literature as necessary.

SSF Guidelines Cluster at MARE 2015

We held a special session at the MARE Conference in Amsterdam, 24-26 June, 2015 where we presented the guidelines, discussed the implementation, as well as the research we can do to support the implementation of the guidelines. Click on TBTI@MARE report to read the cluster discussion highlights from  the TBTI cluster meeting in Amsterdam.

Edited book about the guidelines implementation

The SSF Guidelines are simply one of the most significant landmarks for small-scale fisheries around the world. They are comprehensive in terms of topics covered and very progressive with their foundation on human rights and other key principles. It can be anticipated that implementing the guidelines, whether at local, national or regional levels, will not be easy. Thus, research on implementation challenges in various contexts is an important contribution from TBTI SSF Guidelines Cluster. The call for contribution to all those interested in writing about this topic was conducted in 2015.

In 2017, TBTI published the book ‘The Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines: Global Implementation‘ edited by S. Jentoft,  R. Chuenpagdee, M. J. Barragán-Paladines and N. Franz. This volume of 32 case studies is written by contributions from more than 90 authors from around the world. The book was officially launched at the MARE 2017 conference in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. For more information about the book, CLICK HERE.

Svein Jentoft, UIT – The Arctic University of Norway

Nicole Franz, FAO, Rome

María José Barragán Paladines, Charles Darwin Research Station, Galapagos Islands

Ratana Chuenpagdee, Memorial University, St. John’s