Joining forces for sustainable small-scale fisheries through a human rights-based approach to ocean conservation
Tuesday, 6 June, 2017;
17:00-18:15;
Conference Room B in the UN Conference Building
The ocean is at the heart of the livelihoods of millions of people in coastal communities. It provides food, employment and income to members of these communities – men and women, be it directly through fishing and harvesting activities, or in related activities that include the processing and marketing of fisheries products.
A human rights-based approach therefore calls for securing tenure for these communities, taking into account gender considerations and the rights of indigenous peoples. Community-based and other participatory governance systems for marine resources and the recognition of traditional knowledge and local identity are complementary crucial pre-conditions to ensure the sustainable management of marine resources. Equally important is to ensure that communities can derive a decent living from the ocean, including through the marketing of fisheries products. SDG14b is an expression of the recognition of this. At the same time, small-scale fisheries are also key contributors to the realization of other related SDG 14 targets, as well as of other SDGs, in particular SDG1, 2 and 5.
Strengthening actors and institutional capacities for such a trans-disciplinary approach to the sustainable use of the ocean is urgent and necessary. Join us to hear examples of partnership-based initiatives to improve small-scale fisheries governance and development. The side event will be moderated by Johan Williams, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway.
