On 30 June, the GFCM and WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative, in collaboration with the European Commission, co-organized a high-level event on advancing the Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (RPOA-SSF) in the context of the GFCM 2030 strategy. The objective of this event was to review early successes and lessons learned in implementing the RPOA-SSF and discuss topics for which increased focus is needed, particularly in light of changing priorities as a result of COVID-19.
At this occasion, representatives from Mediterranean and Black Sea countries, the European Commission, FAO, the GFCM, and WWF reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the RPOA-SSF and support small-scale fishers of the region.
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CONTEXT
The Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (RPOA-SSF) was adopted as a Ministerial Declaration on the occasion of a High-level conference on Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (Malta, September 2018). The RPOA-SSF represents a political commitment to implement concrete actions over ten years (until 2028) in order to strengthen and support sustainable SSF, advancing the commitments set out through the Malta MedFish4Ever Ministerial Declaration and the Sofia Declaration, as well as tailoring the implementation of the SSF Guidelines to the Mediterranean and Black Sea region (read more about the road to the RPOA-SSF adoption here).
Noting that the GFCM 2030 strategy stresses the importance of fully implementing the RPOA-SSF, this pre-meeting event is foreseen to review early successes and lessons learned in implementing the RPOA-SSF and discuss topics for which increased focus is needed, particularly in light of changing priorities as a result of COVID-19.
CONCLUSIONS OF THE EVENT
- The RPOA-SSF is the reference guide to shape COVID-19 recovery plans for stronger resilience of coastal livelihoods and long-term sustainable Blue Transformation;
- New financial strategic initiatives to address current and future challenges should be put into place to promote the role of women and facilitate the access of young generations to the sector, capitalizing from new opportunities arising from the COVID-19 recovery;
- Small-scale fishers must be considered in national dialogues in view of the development of economic recovery plans and investments by raising awareness on SSF concerns;
- Participatory mechanisms and co-management plans should be put in place at local level to support long-lasting sustainable solutions.
The conclusions of this event will contribute to the discussions on the implementation of the GFCM 2030 strategy, helping to drive priority actions, as well as shaping the Mediterranean and Black Sea region’s celebration of the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA) in 2022.
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AGENDA & RECORDINGS
Download the full CONCEPT NOTE AND AGENDA.
Listen to the recordings of the event in ARABIC I ENGLISH I FRENCH