Regional Conference on building a future for sustainable small scale fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea
Abstract
The Regional Conference on “Building a future for sustainable small-scale fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea” was held in Algiers, Algeria, from 7 to 9 March 2016. This event was organized by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), including its Mediterranean regional projects, in partnership with the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies – Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM-MAIB), the Network of Marine Protected Areas Managers in the Mediterranean (MedPAN), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and in collaboration with the Algerian Ministry for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries. More than 200 participants attended the conference and discussed about the main challenges and opportunities for the sustainable development of the smallscale fisheries sector. Building upon the momentum created by the First Regional Symposium on Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and Black Sea (Malta, 27–30 November 2013), organized by the same partners, the conference was intended as a practical response to the outcomes of this first event. The conference focused on the main socio-economic and environmental challenges for the sustainable development of small-scale fisheries with the aim to promote political commitment towards tailored strategies for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea region. Discussions were structured around five interactive panels addressing challenges and priorities for the future of this essential activity in the region. Based on the outcomes of the discussions held, conclusions were put forth to urge action in support of sustainable small-scale fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The conclusions agreed upon by all participants reflect the need for concerted efforts to support the sector, raise awareness, share knowledge and devise future strategies to promote its sustainable development.
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