General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean - GFCM

SSF Forum

Version française

WHAT IS THE SSF FORUM?

The Small-Scale Fishers’ Forum, or “SSF Forum”, is a place for small-scale fishers and fish workers from the Mediterranean and Black Sea region to come together, share good practices and learn from one another. 

This initiative responds to the recommendations within the Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (RPOA-SSF) to offer support to small-scale fishers and fish workers to further develop their capacities and skills with regard to sustainable small-scale fisheries and livelihoods.

This initiative further supports the implementation of the SSF Guidelines, which strongly recommend facilitating capacity development of small-scale fishing communities and enabling their participation in decision-making and development processes.

2023-2024 SSF FORUM PROGRAMME 

The SSF Forum 2023-2024 programme is the result of a ground-breaking consultative exercise held in March 2023, which saw small-scale fisheries stakeholders from 13 countries attend a two-day brainstorming session at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. The goal was to create a pragmatic SSF Forum programme that reflects the current needs of people working in the sector.

The SSF Forum 2023-2024 programme includes a series of four in-person workshops on the following topics, while also promoting the cross-cutting themes of generational turnover and gender equity.

    21-23 November I Non-indigenous species: from health and safety to marketing opportunities

    Organizers
    General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)  Mediterranean Conservation Society (MCS) 
    Date
    21-23 November 2023
    Place Gökova Bay, Türkiye
    Objective Understand how to handle harmful non-indigenous species existing in the different Mediterranean subregions, based on the local experience in Gökova Bay, and explore how to capitalize on potential new market opportunities 
    Agenda English and French
    Interpretation Arabic, English and Turkish 
    Conclusions Available here 

    18-20 April I Strong organizations: the basis for developing projects and funding requests

    Organizers

    General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM), Mediterranean Advisory Council (MEDAC), Federación Nacional de Cofradías de Pescadores (FNCP) and the World Wide Fund for Nature Mediterranean Marine Initiative (WWF-MMI)

    With the financial support of the European Union and the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

    Date
    18-20 April 2024 
    Place Torrevieja, Spain
    Objective Discuss how to establish a strong and sustainable SSF organization in a community of fishers, in order to increase productivity and solidarity, diversify the fishers’ activities, and attract younger fishers 
    Agenda English and French
    Interpretation Attempts will be made to provide interpretation in as many languages as possible and will depend on the interest and needs of the participants 
    Registration Link for registration 

    Autumn 2024 I Marine pollution: impacts, interactions and solutions

    Organizers

    General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)  “Notre Grand Bleu” Association

    World Wide Fund (WWF)  

    Date
    Autumn 2024 
    Place Monastir, Tunisia
    Objective Understand the different dimensions of marine pollution and explore how to minimize impacts from a fisher’s perspective
    Agenda Available soon
    Interpretation Attempts will be made to provide interpretation in as many languages as possible and will depend on the interest and needs of the participants 
    Registration Open in summer 2024 

    November 2024 I Selective fishing gear: from impacts to alternatives

    Organizers

    General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)   World Wide Fund (WWF)  

    Date
    November 2024  
    Place Split, Croatia 
    Objective Understand the impact of different fishing gear on juveniles and vulnerable species, as well as possible sustainable alternatives to help minimize pollution from abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear 
    Agenda Available soon
    Interpretation Attempts will be made to provide interpretation in as many languages as possible and will depend on the interest and needs of the participants 
    Registration Open in September 2024 

    TARGET PARTICIPANTS

    Small-scale fishers, fish workers, SSF organization representatives and other relevant stakeholders of Mediterranean and Black Sea countries are encouraged to register to the workshops. Fishers and fish workers who actively work in Mediterranean and Black Sea small-scale fisheries are given priority, and other stakeholders accommodated subject to space and availability of funds. Special attention will be given to include women and young fishers to participate in the workshops. 

    LANGUAGE

    Attempts will be made to provide interpretation in as many languages as possible and will depend on the interest and needs of the participants. 

    HOW TO APPLY FOR PARTICIPATION?

    The application form for each workshop will be available above in the workshop details: 

    Non-indigenous species: from health and safety to marketing opportunities  

    Registration open until 10 October 2023 

    Strong organizations: the basis for developing projects and funding requests 

    Registration open till 29 February 2024 

    Marine pollution: impacts, interactions and solutions 

    Registration open in summer 2024 

    Selective fishing gear: from impacts to alternatives 

    Registration in September 2024 

    Stay tuned for the opening of registrations for the next workshops in 2024. 

    The Friends of SSF network will review applications for participation and evaluate applicant eligibility and funding support. If there are more applicants than available places in a specific workshop, the network retains the right to select participants based on an assessment of the apparent relevance of a chosen workshop to the applicant’s work. A geographic and gender balance among trainees across the SSF Forum programme is also sought. 

    For any additional questions or further information, please contact [email protected]   

    HEAR WHAT FISHERS HAVE TO SAY

    2023 SSF FORUM PROGRAMME

    28 February – 2 March 2023 I Stakeholder-policy interface I Connecting scientists and fishers in the process towards data collection and management of European eel in the Mediterranean (SECOND WORKSHOP)

    Organizer
    General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)  
    Date and modality

    28 February – 2 March 2023 (3 days) 

    Hybrid meeting 

    Objective

    This second workshop aims to follow up on the outcomes of the first workshop held in Sète on 14 April 2022 within the framework of the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA), as part of the “Escale à Sète” event. A webinar was organized (28 October 2022) to prepare this second workshop and continue enhancing the interactions between scientists and fishers for European eel in the Mediterranean, and disseminate the scientific advice emerging from the GFCM research programme on European eel (RP) and the GFCM scientific advisory committee (SAC).  

    The objectives of this second workshop are to: 

    • Strengthen and deepen the network of fishers involved in eel fisheries in the Mediterranean and their interaction with the scientific community towards identifying a path towards sustainable management of the fishery and Mediterranean lagoons; 
    • Involve administration representatives (e.g. at local level) in the discussion to enhance the interaction between environment- and fisheries-related management, modulated by the fisher community; 
    • Exchange views on best practice and work towards identifying a sustainable model that can be exported more widely in the Mediterranean area; 
    • Foster exchange of knowledge and capacity-building towards a level playing field in the Mediterranean. 
    Agenda
    EnglishandFrench 
    Interpretation Arabic, English, French, Greek, Italian, and Turkish 
    Conclusions
    English 

    9-10 March 2023 I Stakeholder-policy interface I SSF Forum consultation: defining the 2023-2024 programme

    Organizer
    General Fisheries Commissions for the Mediterranean (GFCM), on behalf of the Friends of SSF 
    Date and modality

    9-10 March 2023, In person

    FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy 

    Objective

    With the objective to give a stronger voice to small-scale fishers in the region and contribute to the full implementation of the Regional Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (RPOA-SSF), it is foreseen to engage fishers and fish workers directly in the development of the 2023-2024 SSF Forum programme. Small-scale fisheries actors from around the region are invited to meet together to discuss the capacity building topics of greatest interest, in line with priorities emerging from previous meetings and the recommendations of the RPOA-SSF. Through a participatory process, it is foreseen to identify the content of the two-year programme, as well as the process for engaging participants in these future workshops. 

    Agenda
    English and French  
    Interpretation Arabic, English, French, Greek, Italian, Spanish and Turkish 
    Conclusions
    English

    28 April 2023 I Stakeholder-policy interface I Connecting fishers and scientists in the process of the rapa whelk research programme (information meeting)

    Organizer
    General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)  
    Date and modality

    28 April 2023, In person 

    Istanbul, Türkiye 

    Objective
    The workshop aims to continue enhancing interactions between scientists and rapa whelk fishers in the Black Sea through continued dialogue on the management and monitoring of rapa whelk, as well as the promotion of knowledge sharing by discussing recent developments and study results. More specifically, the workshop aims at informing Turkish rapa whelk fishers about the biology of the species, as well as the rapa whelk surveys carried out and the first outcomes of the socioeconomic study, conducted as part of the research programme, with a view to collecting fishers’ feedback on study outcomes and on emerging scientific advice. 
    Agenda
    Available here  
    Conclusions
    Available here 

    2022 SSF FORUM PROGRAMME 

    24 February 2022 I Stakeholder-policy interface - From data collection to management: how the decision-making process work?

    Organizer
    General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)  
    Contributing organization
    World Wide Fund (WWF) 
    Date and modality
    24 February 2022, online meeting 
    Objective
    The objective of this workshop is to demonstrate the importance of data collection in the process of decision-making and the crucial role of small-scale fishers in collecting them. After an introduction on the different steps of data collection leading to the adoption of decisions at the GFCM, various perspectives of data collection will be showcased, from a more regional level to a local level and fishers’ level, with the participation of fishers from around the region.
    Recordings

    ARABIC / ENGLISH / FRENCH SPANISH
    Agenda available here: ENGLISH / FRENCH 

    Conclusions
    ENGLISH / FRENCH  

    14 April 2022 I Stakeholder-policy interface - Connecting scientists and fishers in the process towards data collection and management of European eel in the Mediterranean

    Organizer
    General Fisheries Commision for the Mediterranean (GFCM)  
    Date and modality
    14 April 2022, 10.00-12.00 CET, hybrid meeting 
    In-person event in October (TBC) 
    Objective

    This workshop aims at disseminating information relating to the research programme on European eel with a particular focus on the outcomes related to data collection and management of this species in the Mediterranean. The intent is to establish and enhance the interaction between scientists and fishers. 

    The workshop will take place on 14 April 2022 back to back to the workshop entitled "Small-scale fishing in the Mediterranean: small in scale, high in value" within the framework of International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA), under the hat of the “Escale à Sète” event in the South of France, giving space to fishers and scientists to share their experience and knowledge, in particular:

    • The critical status of the European eel stock
    • Eel habitats at risk: human impacts and threats
    • Data collection: common work, shared information and the collaboration between Science and Fishers
    Agenda

    ENGLISH / FRENCH  

    Conclusions

    ENGLISH / FRENCH  

    9 May 2022 I Stakeholder-policy interface - Stakeholder input on the management of rapa whelk fisheries in the Black Sea

    Organizer
    General Fisheries Commision for the Mediterranean (GFCM) (Black Sea technical unit) 
    Date and modality

    First weeks of May, in-country in-person stakeholder workshops 

    9 May 2022, 9.30-12.00 and 14.00-15.00 online meeting

    Objective
    The objective of the workshop is to start the process of identifying management measures through stakeholder engagement in the framework of the research programme on rapa whelk in the Black Sea, which aims at providing the scientific basis for advice towards the future establishment of a multiannual management plan.  
     
    The workshop will take place in two stages:  
    • in-person workshops in each Black Sea country involving all relevant stakeholders; and 
    • online meeting including a morning session to evaluate the results of the country meetings specific for rapa whelk and an afternoon session targeting a wider audience on the process of identifying alternative management measures and discussing their potential effectiveness through stakeholder engagement. 
    Interpretation
    Bulgarian, English, Romanian, Turkish
    Agenda

    ENGLISH / FRENCH

    30 June 2022 I Stakeholder-policy interface - From scientific data to decision-making: the functioning of the GFCM consultative process towards SSF management measures

    Organizer
    Mediterranean Advisory Council (MEDAC) 
    Date and modality

    30 June 2022, 10.00-12.30 (CEST)

    In-person meeting, Rome, Italy

    Venue: Centro Congressi Cavour, Via Cavour, 50/a, 00184 Roma RM (Italy)

    Objective
    The objective of the workshop is to analyze the forthcoming management measures at GFCM level of interest for SSF and to provide a shared stakeholder advice on the basis of the available information.
    Interpretation

    Croatian, English, French, Greek, Italian and Spanish

    Registration

    Please register here

    Agenda

    Available here

    7 July 2022 I Next generation SSF - Technological innovations to facilitate efficient SSF value chains and fishing business management

    Organizers
    Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) 
    Contributing organizations
    World Wide Fund (WWF), the International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) 
    Date and modality
    7 July 2022 from 15.30 – 17.00 (CEST) online meeting
    Objective
    This workshop focuses on showcasing different sets of fisher driven applications and technological initiatives created by Abalobi, a non-for profit South African organisation that relate to data empowerment, seafood traceability, fair and transparent supply chains, and community cohesion and entrepreneurship. 
    Interpretation

    Arabic, English, French, Greek, Italian and Spanish

    Agenda

    ENGLISH / FRENCH 

    Conclusions

    ENGLISH / FRENCH  

    3 September 2022 I Next generation SSF - Mediterranean and Black Sea SSF dialogue: learning from past experiences for a common future vision giving a voice to small-scale fishers

    Organizers
    Friends of SSF partner organizations  
    Date and modality
    3 September 2022
    In-person, Città dell’Altra Economia, Rome, Italy
    Objective

    Celebrating the International Year for Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (IYAFA) is the perfect opportunity to showcase initiatives and progress made in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region for sustainable small-scale fisheries. From field-level projects to the national and regional implementation of the Regional Plan of Action for small-scale fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea (RPOA-SSF), all actors and stakeholders are contributing to more resilient fishing stocks and secured coastal communities. This session aims to open the dialogue with SSF organizations and discuss priorities, challenges, opportunities and future needs to implement the RPOA-SSF in the region. 

    This session takes place in the context of the IYAFA 2022 celebration organized by IPC Working Group on Fisheries, SSF Hub and the GFCM, with the support of FAO, from 2-4 September.

    Find more information on this link

    Interpretation
    English, French, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic and Portuguese
    Conclusions

    Conclusions of the event are available on the following link.

    Photos and presentations of the event are available on the IYAFA website  

    Agenda
    Available in English and French

    12 September 2022 I Next generation SSF - The RPOA-SSF in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea at the time of IYAFA: achievements and challenges ahead

    Organizers
    Friends of SSF partner organizations  
    Date and modality
    12 September 2022 from 15.30-18.30 (CEST)
    Hybrid meeting - in Malta, broadcast on Zoom
    Objective

    Within the context of the United Nations International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022), this three-hour session will explore the importance of the Regional Plan of Action for small-scale fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (RPOA-SSF) while showcasing initiatives and first hand experiences of the Friends of SSF’s members. The session will take a deep dive into some of topics of the RPOA-SSF and address, for example, participation of small-scale fisheries actors in decision-making processes and capacity building, including the current European stakeholder involvement’s status in the Mediterranean, as well as the role of women in fisheries and actions needed for achieving gender equality. This session takes place in the context of the 4th World SSF Congress organized by TBTI in Malta for the Europe region from 12-14 September.

    Find more information on this link: https://www.4wsfcongress.com/europe-september-2022 

    Agenda
    Available here
    Registration
    Register online on the following link

    25 September 2022 I Next generation SSF - Innovations to facilitate efficient SSF value chains: the Foodnected model

    Organizers

    Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE), the Slow Food organization, Global Footprint Network (GFN), Balearic Group of Ornithology and Nature Defense of Menorca (GOB Menorca), Yolda Initiative, the Center for Protection and Research of Birds in Montenegro (CZIP) and Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby Association (MSJA) 

    With the support of the GFCM

    Date and modality
    25 September 2022 from 11.30-12.30 (CEST)
    In-person meeting in Turin, Italy 
    Objective
    This workshop presents the lessons learned and identified benefits from the piloting of the Foodnected model in multiple pilot sites. The model aims at building and promoting short-distance food systems that ensure increased value for small-scale fisheries products, improved market accessibility for small-scale fishers (e.g. via direct marketing mechanisms) and a producers-consumers reconnection. The model of Foodnected will be presented and SSF will share their experiences.  
    Event

    Link to the event 

    28 October 2022 I Stakeholder-policy interface - Connecting scientists and fishers in the process towards data collection and management of European eel in the Mediterranean PART 2

    Organizers

    General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)

    Date and modality
    28 October 2022, 10.00-12.30 (CEST)
    Online 
    Objective

    Following the workshop organized under the hat of IYAFA and the “Escale à Sète” on 14 April 2022, in Sète, France, this second workshop intends to continue enhancing the interactions between scientists and
    fishers for European eel in the Mediterranean.


    This workshop will disseminate the scientific advice emerging from the GFCM research programme on European eel and the GFCM scientific adviosory committee (SAC). It aims to create a level playing field in the dissemination of information on the outcomes of the scientific work and
    the advice stemming from it. 

    Agenda

    Available here

    Interpretation

    English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Greek, Italian and Turkish

    28 October 2022 I Next generation SSF - Handling equipment and simple vessel adaptations to improve post-release survival of vulnerable species bycatch in small-scale fisheries

    Organizers

    World Wide Fund (WWF), General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)

    Date and modality
    28 October 2022, 14.30-16.00 (CEST)
    Online
    Objective

    The incidental catch of vulnerable species in fisheries including in small-scale fisheries is a conservation issue in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
    Bycatch can bring a number of issues for the daily operation of small-scale fishers, including identification, handling and safe release, and reporting.

    Within the context of the MedBycatch project, this session will present and discuss best practices, issues and hands-on solutions regarding the handling of bycatch of vulnerable species in small-scale fisheries in the Mediterranean.
    Experts and small-scale fisheries workers will present and share their knowledge and experiences and discuss solutions at hand.

    For more information about the project see
    here

    Agenda

    Available here

    Interpretation

    Arabic, Croatian, English, French, Italian, Spanish and Turkish

              Conclusions

    Available here

    17 November 2022 I Next generation SSF - Diversifying livelihoods through tourism and other commercial activities

    Organizers  General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) 
    Contributing organizations International Center for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) and the World Wide Fund (WWF)  
    Date and modality

    17 November 2022, 14.30-16.00 (CET) Online

    Objective
    This workshop focuses on the diversification of activities in the small-scale fisheries sector, giving the spotlight to initiatives led by CIHEAM and WWF on pescatourism. 
     Interpretation
    Arabic, Croatian, English, French, Italian, Spanish and Turkish
    Agenda  Available here
    Conclusions  ENGLISH

    November 2022 I Stakeholder-policy interface - Getting started: characterize fishing activities in your MPA (postponed to Spring 2023)

    Organizers  MedPAN
    Date and modality
    Postponed to to Spring 2023
    Objective
    The overall objective of the training is to provide MPA managers and practitioners with the basic knowledge, methodologies and practical skills needed to characterise and establish an initial status of fishing activities in the MPA.
    Scope

    This training module is to set up an initial status of the fishing activities occurring in and around the MPA. As Mediterranean MPAs are mainly coastal, the training will primarily focus on the characterisation of small-scale and recreational fisheries (including boat fishing, shore fishing and spearfishing). 

    However, industrial fishing activities that may also occur within or around some MPAs will be briefly covered. The training will also provide keys to the characterisation of illegal fishing activities, especially poaching. As the first building block of the fisheries training cycle, this core module is to provide MPA managers and practitioners with basic knowledge and simple, straightforward methodologies to start from scratch in characterising fishing activities and get a basic snapshot of the situation in their MPA.

    Interpretation
    English and French

    2021 SSF FORUM PROGRAMME & RECORDINGS

    Promoting strong and innovative SSF value chains (May and July 2021)

    Main organizer(s) CIHEAM Bari and the AKTEA Platform 
    Objective
    This workshop focuses on best practices to create competitive economic advantages for small-scale fisheries actors along the value chain. Sessions focus on strategies for adding value to small-scale fisheries products, such as voluntary labeling, direct selling processing and packaging; and on the experiences of women contributing to robust SSF value chains in the region.  
    Sessions

    The workshop consisted of three sessions:

    • Enhancing SSF value chains: innovations in processing and voluntary labeling (May 2021)(Organized by CIHEAM Bari) AGENDA
      • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
    • Enhancing SSF market opportunities through direct selling, processing and sustainable packaging (May 2021) (Organized by CIHEAM Bari) AGENDA
      • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
    • Being a woman along the SSF value chain: real life success stories and challenges (July 2021)(Organized by the AKTEA Platform) AGENDA
      • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
    Conclusions

    Summary of key issues and related conclusions available HERE

    Decent work and social protection (September 2021)

    Main organizer(s) General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) 
    Objective
    The SSF Guidelines and the RPOA-SSF underline that sustainable small-scale fisheries management should go hand-in-hand with opportunities for decent work and socio-economic development. Promoting safety at sea, occupational health and safety, as well as access to social protection programmes (both formal and informal), are crucial for supporting the resilience of small-scale fishing communities and their full and productive employment. This workshop will seek to explore good practices for ensuring safe working conditions. It will also seek to raise awareness about social protection programmes, including their impact on the socio-economic development of small-scale fishers and natural resource management, sharing best practices in improving access in the region. Additionally, it will share experiences and strategies of how SSF organizations can play a role in providing community-based social protection for their members. 
    Sessions The workshop consisted of three sessions: 
    • Social protection: what is it and how to overcome barriers for access AGENDA
      • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
    • Preparing for a safe fishing trip: do’s and don’ts AGENDA
      • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
    • How SSF organizations can promote community-based social protection for members AGENDA
      • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
    Conclusions Summary of key issues and related conclusions available HERE

    Participatory management approaches (October 2021)

    Main organizer(s) WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative (WWF MMI), Mediterranean Advisory Council (MEDAC), the Directorate-General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs – Department of Agriculture, Stockbreeding, Fisheries and Food, Government of Catalonia (DGPAM-DARP), the Fishers’ Cofradia of Roses and the Catalan Federation of Fishermen Associations (FNCCP)
    Contributing organization(s)
    Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)
    Objective
    Empowering small-scale fisheries stakeholders to engage in decision-making processes has shown to be a powerful and effective tool for sustainable management. This workshop will examine different participatory management arrangements and best practices for running efficient and effective SSF organizations. Workshops will share the experiences of fishers participating in successful co-management arrangements and will show how co-management can work at different levels. The experiences of other participatory processes will also be highlighted and best practices will be shared among SSF organizations with strategies for good organization management.     
    Sessions

    The workshop consisted of three sessions:

    • 2nd Forum on Fisheries Co-management in Catalonia: lessons learnt from local co-management committees (Organized by DGPAM-DARP, Fishers’Cofradia of Roses, FNCCP, GFCM and more) AGENDA
      • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
    • Promoting common advisory councils: the experience of MEDAC and other regional organizations (Organized by MEDAC) AGENDA: EN | ES | FR | GR | HR| IT
      • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
        • Video recording with unedited original simultaneous interpretation.
    • SSF organizations: showcasing initiatives in the region for good organizational management and engagement in co-management processes(Organized by WWF MMI) AGENDA
      • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:

    Small-scale fishers: guardians of our changing marine environment (December 2021)

    Main organizer(s) General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative 
    Objective

    The changing marine environment presents ever-evolving challenges: from climate change to plastic pollution to reducing interactions with vulnerable species. Within the context of the Day of the Mediterranean on 28 November, this workshop will highlight innovative solutions and adaptation strategies to address these challenges. Workshops will showcase solutions fishers have found to improve the selectivity of their catches, reducing bycatch and the incidental catch of vulnerable species; provide opportunities for fishers to share and compare climate change impacts and discuss adaptation strategies; and will highlight innovative projects with small-scale fishers in the region to combat marine litter and plastic pollution in our seas. 

    Sessions

    The workshop consisted of three sessions:

    • Strengthening resilience to climate change: mitigation and adaptation strategies (Organized by the GFCM) AGENDA
      • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
    • Participating in the circular economy: innovative strategies to address marine litter (Organized by the GFCM) AGENDA
      • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
    • Fishing more selectively: reducing bycatch and the incidental catch of vulnerable species (Organized by WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative) AGENDA
      • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:

    2020 SSF FORUM PROGRAMME 

    National SSF University days: Addressing common regional SSF issues (10 November 2020)

    Organizer FAO Mediterranean ProjectsFAO Mediterranean Projects (AdriaMed, CopeMedII, EastMed, MedSudMed) and the BlackSea4Fish project
    When 10 November 2020, 1 day
    Where Workshops took place simultaneously in the countries where the FAO Mediterranean Projects and the BlackSea4Fish project operate. The events were hosted by the national research institutes.
    Course objective and agenda

    The course addressed common regional SSF issues such as collaborative science (including participatory data collection, reporting and monitoring), local ecological knowledge (LEK), climate change and environmental impacts of fishing.

    Webnews available here

    Target participants Nationals of the participating countries: small-scale fishers, fish workers and representatives of SSF organizations
    Language of instruction Plenary sessions were held in English. Breakout sessions were held in the language of the hosting countries.

    Co-management best practices: learning exchange visit (24 November 2020)

    Organizer WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative
    When 24 November 2020
    Where Conil de la Frontera, Spain
    Course objective and agenda

    The training was organized around a site visit to Conil for approximately 50 participants to exchange experiences and learn about co-management including topics such as traceability, transparency, value addition and marketing, and local tourism.

    Webnews available here

    Target participants Nationals of Mediterranean countries: small-scale fishers and representatives of SSF organizations
    Language of instruction Arabic, English, Spanish, Croatian, Greek, Italian and Turkish

    Revive, Renew and Relaunch AKTEA (24-26 February 2020)

    Organizer European Network of Women in Fisheries and Aquaculture (AKTEA)
    When 24-26 February 2020
    Where Brussels, Belgium 
    Course objective and agenda

    The workshop explored the role of women in fisheries and provided training to AKTEA members on the functioning of relevant legislative bodies, such as the EU, and how to make a difference in the legislative and policy making processes of European institutions. The training included a visit to the European Parliament Fisheries Committee and meetings with European law makers.

    Workshop agenda (EN) | Webnews

    Target participants Women small-scale fishers, fish workers and SSF organization representatives from European Mediterranean countries
    Language of instruction English
    Contact information
    For further information, please contact Katia Frangoudes ([email protected])

    Exchange visit in Catalonia (9-12 March 2020)

    Organizer WWF France, in collaboration with LIFE (Low Impact Fishers of Europe), the Natural marine park of Gulf of Lion and the National park of Calanques
    When 9-12 March 2020
    Where Catalonian region, Spain 
    Course objective and agenda

    The training aimed at raising awareness on fisheries sustainability and co-management and strengthening the capacity of fishers to sell their fish at a fairer price. It included meetings with the Catalonian government, fishers and scientists. 

    Workshop agenda (FR)

    Target participants French nationals: small-scale fishers and representatives of SSF organizations
    Language of instruction French and Spanish
    Contact information
    If you wish to have further information, please contact Andrea Sabbio ([email protected])