Dear colleagues/forum participants,
It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to this e-consultation on the important issue of the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication – or the SSF Guidelines as they are called for short. Writing this welcome note makes me realise how far we have come – but also how much there still is to do. We have come far because of the increased recognition of the importance of small-scale fisheries and because we are now close to having an international instrument in their support (still subject to another session of negotiations and formal approval by the FAO Committee on Fisheries – COFI – next year but I feel confident that the remaining process will go well). At the same time, there is still a lot to do because a document does not automatically change the world, even when it is an international instrument having been developed through an extensive consultation process and negotiated at a high level. The SSF Guidelines need to be put into practice to have a positive impact on the lives of all those who depend on fisheries and aquatic resources for their livelihoods and well-being. This of course includes small-scale fishers, fish workers and their communities but also others who depend on fish for their nutritional needs as well as all of us who enjoy eating fish and who believe in equitable development and a sustainable use of our global resources. Hence, we all have a stake in the future of smalls-scale fisheries – let’s work together to ensure that they have a secure and sustainable future! I look forward to your contributions, feedback and ideas during this e-consultation that will take place until 3 December. Your inputs will be vital for the continuation of the process towards a comprehensive and effective implementation of the SSF Guidelines and will feed directly into the the work of the FAO SSF Guidelines Secretariat to draft an inclusive global assistance programme. At the same time, I see this as a great opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences – not only with the FAO SSF Guidelines Secretariat but also among yourselves and between different stakeholder groups and disciplines. So, I wish us all an interesting and fruitful discussion – enjoy!
With best wishes,
Lena Westlund
Lena Westlund