Report of the FAO/SPC Pacific Islands Regional Consultation on the Development of Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries, Noumea, New Caledonia, 12-14 June 2012
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During its twenty-ninth Session in 2011, the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) approved the development of a new international instrument on small-scale fisheries in the form of international guidelines (SSF Guidelines). The strategic development process of these SSF Guidelines consists in an extensive consultation process with governments, regional organizations, civil society organizations and small-scale fishers, fish workers and their communities. In this context, a Pacific Islands Regional Consultation on the Development of Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries was co-organized by FAO and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) from 12-14 June 2012 in Noumea, New Caledonia. The consultation brought together 38 participants representing governments, the fishing industry and civil society organizations (CSOs) from 17 countries and territories in the Pacific Islands region to share experiences with small-scale fisheries policies and practices. The consulta tion also discussed the thematic areas of the Zero Draft of the International Guidelines on Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the context of the Pacific Islands region and provided advice for improvement. The consultation confirmed the importance of small-scale fisheries as a livelihood contributing to food and nutrition security, poverty alleviation and economic development in the Pacific Islands region which has to face challenges from population growth and climate change imp acts and suffers from geographical remoteness. The SSF Guidelines were perceived as an important tool for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries governance and development. In terms of governance of rights, resource management and stewardship, customary right systems are a fundamental part of most fishery governance systems in the region. Fishing communities are integrated and generally have an equitable rather than a marginalized role in society. In the Pacific Island Region fishing i s in fact a respected and acknowledged profession, not an activity of last resort. Still, the consultation agreed on the importance of encouraging policies to protect small-scale fisheries livelihoods, to promote income opportunities and to emphasize the socio-economic and cultural importance of small-scale fisheries. Newly established or strengthened fishing community associations are expected to play an important role in this regard.