Shoring up: Linking Social Protection and Early Warning Systems for the Fisheries Sector

This webinar focused on how social protection could improve the design and delivery of targeted and more cohesive climate responses and poverty reduction efforts for the fisheries sector. It included some preliminary results from a new global database, as well as supportive tools and knowledge resources.

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) based in coastal communities around the world were facing unprecedented increases in the frequency and severity of acute and sub-acute climate shocks and slower-onset stressors. Interlinked with this were challenging social dimensions that inhibited efforts to build resilience, including socio-economic vulnerability and limited access to services (e.g. healthcare and social protection). Urgent action was needed as the livelihoods of millions of small-scale fishers were at risk, along with the food security of millions of people who relied on fish as a primary source of protein. Social Protection was an essential tool in addressing this climate-poverty nexus, and linkages with Early Warning Systems were key to improving preparedness and reducing vulnerability (FAO, 2022).

Speakers included:

• Angélica María Jácome Daza, Director, FAO Office of SIDS, LDCs, and LLDCs
• Daniella Salazar Herrera, Fisheries Officer (Social Protection), FAO
• Ian S. Horsford (Caribbean SIDS), Menka Vansant (African SIDS), and Vijay Naidu (Pacific SIDS), Research Associates with the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF)
• Patrick McConney, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies, University of the West Indies (CERMES/UWI)

The event was live-streamed, was held in English, and could be followed exclusively online.