During the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022) [KM(1] the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will launch Strengthening coherence between social protection and fisheries policies: Framework for Analysis and Action and Diagnostic tool. These guidance materials are intended to provide practical assistance to countries in strengthening the design and adoption of coherent fisheries and social protection interventions, avoiding policy fragmentation and inefficiencies in resource allocation and outcomes as highlighted by the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines). Greater coherence between fisheries and social protection can contribute to making blue food systems more sustainable, more equitable and more resilient.

Evidence proves this. FAO has collected evidence showing that social protection, when coupled with fisheries policies, can generate a wide range of additional positive impacts on income and livelihood diversification, increased capacity to manage risks - including those associated with climate change - sustainable environmental management, and improved food security and nutrition.

The Framework for Analysis and Action gathers evidence on the positive outcomes of coherence between social protection and fisheries policies and identifies options at policy and programmatic levels for strengthening coherence between these sectors. The Diagnostic Tool provides a methodological approach - including interview guides - for assessing the state of coherence at policy and programme levels. 

To date, these documents have already been used in Senegal, Cambodia and Thailand to support decision makers in identifying  actions for promoting coherent fisheries  and social protection policies. Currently,[KM(2]  FAO is technically supporting the states of Colombia and Tunisia by assessing the coherence and extent of social protection coverage through the Social protection for Fisheries and Aquaculture (SocPro4Fish) project funded by Norad.

Transforming blue food systems (oceans, inland waters, and sustainable aquaculture) is required to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as they provide humankind with a significant proportion of nutritious food and healthy diets, decent job opportunities, resilient livelihoods and sustainable fisheries resources. Blue food systems transformation can only be achieved through policy coherence, by reconciling environmental sustainability and socio-economic wellbeing of fisheries-dependent communities.