Virtual Regional Training Workshop to test the use of the Legislative Guide and the Legal Diagnostic Tool for Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal

More than 30 participants from Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal attended a 4-day  virtual regional training workshop  organized by the Development Law Service of the Legal Office of FAO, FAO’s Fisheries  Division  and the GEF-funded Coastal Fisheries Initiative (CFI), to test the use of both the Legislating for Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries – A guide and considerations for implementing aspects of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication in National Legislation (SSF Legislative Guide)  and a forthcoming related small-scale fisheries Legal Diagnostic Tool – both supporting the implementation of the SSF Guidelines. It is expected that the participants of this regional training will contribute to the implementation of the SSF Legislative Guide and they were invited to comment on the small-scale fisheries Legal Diagnostic Tool prior to its publication. In addition, the training aimed to:

• raise awareness on the relevance of the SSF Guidelines and support their implementation
• raise awareness about the broad international legal framework relevant for small-scale fisheries
• clarify the importance of national policy and legal instruments for small-scale fisheries and the potential need for strengthening them through the development of new policy and legislation entirely dedicated to small-scale fisheries
• train participants in identifying national policy and legal instruments relevant to small-scale fisheries
• train participants in assessing the alignment of select fisheries policy and legal instruments with the SSF Guidelines requirements
• enhance the technical capacity of participants in analysing and identifying gaps and constraints in the assessed national policy and legal frameworks in relation to the SSF Guidelines at national level

During the interactive workshop the participants had the opportunity to exchange views and perspectives on the implementation of the SSF Guidelines in policy and legislation at country level and between countries.

FAO and the One Ocean Hub, are now co-organizing a similar training that will take place on 12th - 15th April 2021 and will focus on South Africa, Ghana and Namibia. It is expected that similar workshops can be organised in other regions of the world. If you are interested in organizing such a training contact us at [email protected].