Why an International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture?

The global food system faces many complex challenges, including hunger, malnutrition and diet-related diseases, an ever-growing global population that needs sufficient and healthy food, the need to reduce food loss and waste, the depletion of natural resources and effects of climate change, as well as the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants are fundamental, essential and indispensable foods eaten by people around the world as part of healthy diets, cultural heritage and culinary tradition. Small-scale artisanal fishers and fish farmers produce a large portion of this food, and as such, IYAFA 2022 is an opportunity to highlight the importance of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture for our food systems, livelihoods, culture and the environment. Small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers hold enormous potential to promote transformative changes in how, by whom and for whom fish and fishery products are produced, processed and distributed – with positive ripple effects felt throughout the global food system.

IYAFA 2022 aims to raise awareness on the role of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, strengthen science-policy interaction, empower stakeholders to take action, and to build new and strengthen existing partnerships. IYAFA 2022 can also act as a springboard towards implementing the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and related documents, like the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication, and take concrete actions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as we enter the last decade of action to achieve the 2030 Agenda. It also falls within the UN Decade of Family Farming, the two observances will reinforce one another in providing greater visibility to small-scale artisanal fishers, fishfarmers and fish workers.

Let’s work together for a world in which small-scale artisanal fishers, fishfarmers and fish workers are fully recognized and empowered to continue their contributions for human well-being, food systems and poverty alleviation through the responsible and sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture resources.

Key Messages

RESOURCE STEWARDS

Use biodiversity sustainably for the longevity of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture As custodians of shared resources fishers, fishfarmers and fishworkers have a fundamental role in ensuring the responsible management and sustainable use of living aquatic resources and their supporting ecosystems.

VALUE FOR ALL

Support inclusive value chains for small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture Access to markets, appropriate infrastructure, inclusive value chains enable fishers, fishfarmers and fishworkers to better provide affordable high-quality fish products, foster economic development and generate employment.

LIVING WELL

Secure social inclusion and well-being of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture Decent working and living conditions are essential for small-scale fishers, fishfarmers and fishworkers to secure livelihoods and maintain their social, physical and cultural wellbeing.

NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US

Ensure effective participation of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture in building and strengthening enabling policy environments Effective participation, supported by comprehensive data and information, in decision-making processes ensures that traditional knowledge and voices of fishers, fishfarmers and fishworkers and their organizations shape laws and policies relating to small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture.

WOMEN AND A CHANGING TIDE

Acknowledge that women and men in small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture are equal Centralising the role women play in small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture is essential to women's empowerment and sustainable development.

NOURISHING NATIONS

Promote the contribution to healthy diets from small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture in sustainable food systems Small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture have a fundamental role in contributing healthy, safe, affordable, and nutritious aquatic foods and products as part of global and local food systems.

AWARE AND PREPARED

Increase the preparedness and adaptive capacity of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture to environmental degradation, shocks, disasters and climate change Fishers, fishfarmers and fishworkers are among the world's most vulnerable to environmental degradation, shocks, disasters and climate change. Policies and actions should support building resilience to these threats for the long-term continuity of the sectors.

What is 'Artisanal' and 'Small Scale'?

There is no universal definition of 'artisanal' or 'small-scale’ fisheries or aquaculture. In general, these terms describe fisheries and aquaculture that use relatively small production units with relatively low input and low output, and limited levels of technology and small capital investment. They are commonly managed on a family level, sometimes with a small group of employees, or at a community level. The fish are often sold in local markets, but can also reach national and international markets. For the purpose of IYAFA, small-scale and artisanal are used interchangeably. Note that fishing for sport or recreation are commonly not called 'artisanal' or 'small-scale'.

A Global Action Plan for plain sailing

The Global Action Plan (GAP) of the IYAFA 2022 aims at building global momentum to accelerate the support required to bring small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture to the forefront of societal attention. The GAP outlines a series of indicative and interconnected actions from the global to the local level that are mutually reinforcing in the pillars of work.

The GAP provides guidance for the international community, including local and national governments, bodies of the United Nations, non-governmental organisations, international financial institutions and other international mechanisms, regional bodies, producer organizations, academic and research institutes, civil society organizations, and the private sector.

The expected outputs fall into four categories:

Raised awareness

Sharing accessible information and key messages on small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture with a broad range of audiences, including through the organization of and participation in relevant global, regional and national events.

Strengthened science-policy interface

Collectively gather and disseminate transdisciplinary evidence in a participatory manner to generate required information and knowledge on specific aspects of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture, that is then used to support decision-making and policy processes in support of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture.

Empowered stakeholders

Enabling small-scale artisanal fishers, fishfarmers and fishworkers and their organizations to engage as equal partners in all relevant decision-making processes. This would also include working with legislators and government agencies in the formulation and adoption of laws, regulations, policies, strategies, programs and projects.

Partnerships

Build new and strengthen existing partnerships, both among small-scale actors’ organizations as well as with other partners from government, research bodies, NGOs, the private sector, regional organizations and others, at all levels.

Objective of the International Year

The objective of celebrating IYAFA 2022 is twofold: the Year aims to focus world attention on the role that small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers play in food security and nutrition, poverty eradication and sustainable natural resource use – thereby increasing global understanding and action to support them. The celebration is also an opportunity to enhance dialogue between different actors, and not least to strengthen small-scale producers to partner up with one another and make themselves seen, heard and included in policy- and decision-making that shapes their everyday lives – all the way from local community level up to international and global fora.

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