PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

This is the final report approved by the participants at the Second Session of the Working Party on Small-scale Fisheries of the FAO Advisory Committee on Fisheries Research held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 18 to 21 November 2003. The discussion papers presented at the Working party will be published as a supplement to this report.

Distribution:

Participants
ACFR Members
FAO Fisheries Officers, Regional and Subregional Offices

A VISION FOR SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES

The vision for small-scale fisheries is one in which their contribution to sustainable development is fully realized. It is a vision where:

they are not marginalized and their contribution to national economies and food security is recognized, valued and enhanced;
fishers, fish workers and other stakeholders have the ability to participate in decision-making, are empowered to do so, and have increased capability and human capacity, thereby achieving dignity and respect; and
poverty and food insecurity do not persist; and where the social, economic and ecological systems are managed in an integrated and sustainable manner, thereby reducing conflict.