Capacity building is a cross cutting theme which is one of the major elements for  sustainable development. The FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department undertakes capacity building activities for marine and inland fisheries as well as aquaculture. These include provision of training courses within Technical Cooperation Projects (TCPs), preparation of training materials (e.g. simple methods in aquaculture series, disease diagnostic guides, surveillance methods, extension manuals, technical manuals, etc.), awareness raising through training/workshops, financial and technical support to existing training programmes carried out by partner institutions and custom training courses on specific topics.

Capacity building uses methodologies to enable participants to work independently with fisheries management issues and participate actively in the formulation of management plans in the region where they work.

Through TCPs (Technical Cooperation Programmes) and unilateral or multilateral funded field projects, the Department provides technical information, advice and training to member countries and RFBs. Outputs are then used by fishers and fish farmers, resource managers and policy-makers to improve production, conservation and policy-making in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Results help improve food supply and rural livelihoods through responsible production, better management practices and improved environmental sustainability.

Training and extension material, guidelines and participatory approaches

The FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department is working towards strengthening the capacity of men and women in fishing communities – particulary small-scale fisheries – in the promotion and use of sustainable, cost efficient and safe fishing operations and methods, their enhanced participation in fisheries and coastal management and socio-economic development, disaster preparedness and training, extension and information dissemination. These are being done through the development of guidelines and extension materials and the promotion of participatory approaches through their demonstration and pilot testing together with stakeholders.  

FAO activities include:

• Responsible and efficient small-scale fishing technologies
• Cleaner and better managed harbours and fish landing sites
• Use of socio-economic and demographic indicators in community-based and integrated coastal zone management
• Microfinance and micro-enterprise development
• Strengthening fisher organizations, cooperatives and self-help groups
• Disaster preparedness; support to emergency assistance and rehabilitation
• Training on selective fishing gear, bycatch reduction and sustainable fishing methods