Regional Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) Workshop in Asia: building on a decade of the SSF Guidelines for a sustainable future

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) contribute at least 47% of the catch from capture fisheries in Asia and provide jobs for around 46 million people, representing 91% of Asia's fisheries workforce.

The FAO SSF Guidelines were released in 2014 as the first global framework dedicated to SSF, promoting food security and poverty eradication. With the SSF Guidelines reaching their 10th anniversary in 2024, the upcoming Regional SSF Workshop from 26-27 March in Bangkok, Thailand, will commemorate this milestone and plan for the future.

Aligned with the FAO’s Blue Transformation Roadmap, the workshop will evaluate progress, highlight successes, and define a sustainable path forward. Co-organized by FAO, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), and various stakeholders, the event will assess the status of SSF, share best practices, and explore innovative approaches to implementing the SSF Guidelines.

The goal is to ensure a resilient, sustainable future for SSF, enhancing food security, poverty reduction, and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Asia.

The objectives of the workshop are to:

• Assess the uptake and implementation of SSF Guidelines in selected countries across the region;
• Compile existing guidance materials and tools to support the continued implementation of the SSF Guidelines;
• Identify key policy processes and actors relevant to the SSF Guidelines implementation at regional and national levels;
• Strengthening partnerships and collaboration among stakeholders to accelerate progress;
• Share lessons learned, including challenges, good practices, and gaps related to the SSF Guidelines implementation and National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF); and
• Develop actionable recommendations to guide efforts in advancing sustainable small-scale fisheries in the region.