Case study
Report of capacity development workshop on the voluntary guidelines for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries in the context of food security and poverty eradication for indigenous peoples of Central America
For centuries, fishing has been an activity of great importance for indigenous peoples. They inhabit and relate to water ecosystems, which conserve their cultural heritage, food sovereignty (the right to access healthy and culturally appropriate food) and in many cases are a main source of income. In Central America the situation is not different: today indigenous peoples live in more than 75% of the marine-coastal zones of the Caribbean Sea and extensive areas adjacent to continental waters and the Pacific Ocean, and have in fishing their main incomes. Precisely these areas present the highest indicators of poverty and malnutrition in the region.
Taking this context into account, FAO and FILAC joined forces to promote the implementation of the voluntary guidelines for the sustainability of small-scale fisheries (DV-PPE) in the context of food security and the eradication of poverty. They organized the international course "Voluntary Guidelines for the Sustainability of Small Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and the Eradication of Poverty for Indigenous Peoples of Central America". During the course, government representatives, indigenous leaders and indigenous fishermen from six countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Nicaragua) gathered to learn, share, advocate, dialogue and build a roadmap to implement in their countries.