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

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

28 February – 2 March 2023 (3 days) 

Hybrid meeting 

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. 

9-10 March 2023, In person

FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy 

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. 

28 April 2023, In person 

Istanbul, Türkiye 

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

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

ENGLISH / FRENCH  

ENGLISH / FRENCH  

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

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

• 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. 

ENGLISH / FRENCH

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)

Croatian, English, French, Greek, Italian and Spanish

Please register here

Available here

Arabic, English, French, Greek, Italian and Spanish

ENGLISH / FRENCH 

ENGLISH / FRENCH  

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. 

Conclusions of the event are available on the following link.

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

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 

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

Link to the event 

General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)

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. 

Available here

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

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

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

Available here

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

Available here

17 November 2022, 14.30-16.00 (CET) Online

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.

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:
    ENGLISH
    FRENCH
    SPANISH
• Enhancing SSF market opportunities through direct selling, processing and sustainable packaging (May 2021) (Organized by CIHEAM Bari) AGENDA
  • RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
    ARABIC
    ENGLISH
    FRENCH
    SPANISH
• 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:
    ENGLISH
    FRENCH
    SPANISH

Summary of key issues and related conclusions available HERE

• Social protection: what is it and how to overcome barriers for access AGENDA
• RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
  ARABIC
  ENGLISH
  SPANISH
• Preparing for a safe fishing trip: do’s and don’ts AGENDA
• RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
  ARABIC
  ENGLISH
  FRENCH
  SPANISH
• How SSF organizations can promote community-based social protection for members AGENDA
• RECORDING OF THE SESSION:
  ARABIC
  ENGLISH
  FRENCH
  SPANISH

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:
    ENGLISH
    FRENCH
    SPANISH pt.1
    SPANISH pt.2
• 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:
    CROATIAN
    ENGLISH
    FRENCH
    GREEK
    ITALIAN
    SPANISH
    • 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:
    ARABIC
    CROATIAN
    ENGLISH
    FRENCH
    ITALIAN
    SPANISH

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. 

The workshop consisted of three sessions:

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

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

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

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

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)