Togo hosted the eighth meeting of the Small-Scale Fisheries Working Group of the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF), bringing together experts, government representatives, and technical and financial partners from around twenty African countries to strengthen the sustai...

As part of the participatory process to develop the National Action Plan for Small-Scale Fisheries (PAN-PPE), under the project "Improving equitable, climate-resilient and sustainable small-scale fisheries through the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines," funded by the Swedish Internati...

The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) 2026 report highlights growing global efforts to implement the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines), emphasizing that national action is critical to translating the international instrument int...

Small-scale fisheries representatives, governments, development partners, researchers and civil society organizations gathered in Mombasa, Kenya, on 15 June 2026 for the 3rd PROBLUE Global Engagement Forum (PGEF) on Small-Scale Fisheries, Food Security and Biodiversity in the Ocean. The event ...

By Okeloh W’Namadoa¹, Gabriel Muswali² & Peris Khamoga³

Overview of small-scale fisheries and tenure rights in Africa

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) play an important role in food security, job creation fo...

The Fisheries Commission in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held a workshop on the development and implementation of a National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF) from 12 to 14 May 2026. 

FAO, under the project,

On 28 and 29 May 2026, members of FAO’s small-scale fisheries team contributed to the Advanced Specialised Course on Sustainable Development of Coastal Communities, a high-level 10-week capacity-building programme organized by CIHEAM Bari. The course aims to strengthen the capacities of ...

Written by Julia Nakamura, Lena Westlund, Ana Suarez Dussan and Rishi Sharma, FAO 

The World Small-Scale Fisheries Congresses (WSSF) set out a transdisciplinary forum to discuss and share knowledge, research, and views in support of small-scale fisheries around the wor...

Written by AWFISHNET Secretariat 

In March 2026, the shores of Lake Victoria became a classroom. From 18 to 20 March, the FAO funded Global Learning Exchange (GLE) brought together over 50 participants from six African countries, Colombia, Malawi, and the Philippines to sha...

The Global Network for Capacity Building to Increase Access of Small-Scale Fisheries to Financial Services (CAFI SSF Network), in collaboration with partners, convened a global webinar on “Fast-tracking insurance for small fishing vessels: an innovative approach.”

The event ...

Africa’s small-scale fisheries play a crucial role in food security and poverty alleviation, yet they face significant challenges from climate change and lack of policy support. At COP30 in Brazil, stakeholders are highlighting their importance and advocating for urgent action.

Stanford University (Stanford, USA) conveyed the workshop "Beyond Illuminating Hidden Harvests: Towards a New Research Agenda in Small-Scale Fisheries" from 14 to16 April 2026. The aim of the workshop was to explore new priority research topics for small-scale fisheries (SSF), as part of the <...

A Global Learning Exchange held in Mwanza from 18 to 20 March 2026 brought together key stakeholders from Africa, Asia, and Latin America to strengthen collaboration, share experiences, and advance the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (S...

Written by: Christopher Sonten 

German Development Cooperation recognizes the immense potential of small-scale fisheries (SSF) for food and nutrition security, poverty alleviation, sustainable natu...

Located in the Boeny region in northwestern Madagascar, the bays of Mahajamba and Bombetoka are home to many coastal communities whose livelihoods largely depend on artisanal fishing. In these areas, women play a key—yet often overlooked—role in the processing and marketing of aquatic...

Governments, international organizations, civil society and small-scale fisheries representatives gathered today during a side event at the Sub-Committee on Fisheries Management (COFI-FM) to share concrete lessons on advancing sustainable and equitable small-scale fisheries. 

T...

The Fisheries Commission, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has trained 36 participants (50% men and 50% women) representing 13 stakeholder groups, including small-scale fisheries actors, academia, civil society, government representatives, and fisheries office...

Ghana, supported by FAO, is currently in the process of initiating its National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF), in line with the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines). Marking a significant step toward strengthening sustainabl...

The Tanzania Women Fishworkers Association (TAWFA), supported by FAO, met with the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Agnes Meena, at Government City, Mtumba, Dodoma. The meeting aimed at strengthening the collaboration between TAWFA and Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MLF) by providing TAWFA leade...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with Small Scale Fisheries (SSF) partners and value chain actors (Fishers and Fish Workers, researchers, academics, and training institutions) organized the 7th edition of the Jinja Fish Festival from 6-7 Decemb...