Legislation for small-scale fisheries - Launch of SSF-LEX
Cape Town, 23 November 2022
The Development Law Service (LEGN) and the Equitable Livelihoods team (NFIFL) of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division jointly launched SSF-LEX at the 4th World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress - African region.
SSF-LEX is the new policy and legal database entirely dedicated to small-scale fisheries. In his opening remarks, the Chief, LEGN underscored the usefulness of SSF-LEX in enhancing knowledge about policy and legal frameworks relevant to govern small-scale fisheries, and how such knowledge is “a primary step toward ensuring the recognition, protection and promotion of the rights of small-scale fishers”. LEGN and NFIFL delivered a comprehensive and informative presentation on: (i) the importance of the SSF Guidelines in international fisheries law and governance, and the need to create SSF-LEX; (ii) an overview of FAOLEX, its main features and where SSF-LEX falls under; (iii) explaining what is SSF-LEX, why and how to use it; and (iv) elucidating the SSF-LEX country profiles’ structure and content.
Ms Jackie Sunde, One Ocean Hub researcher, gave a fascinating presentation, which showcased the importance of the SSF-LEX country profile of South Africa, and highlighted key elements that the current South Africa’s Constitution and legislation provide in recognition and protection of small-scale fishers’ customary tenure rights and fishing rights. Ms Diénaba Beye, Coastal Fisheries Initiative international legal consultant, also emphasized the importance of SSF-LEX in the identification of relevant national policy and legislation, illustrating the SSF-LEX country profile of Senegal.
The session will be made available online at the Youtube channel of the Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) Global Partnership for Small-Scale Fisheries, which organized the Congress. For more information, contact: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; or [email protected].