Asia - Pacific Regional Consultation on the Draft International Guidelines on Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries

Written by Administrator Thursday, 09 August 2012 10:56

22 September 2012
South East Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC)
Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines

In line with current discussions on the proposed International Guidelines on Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) being developed by the FAO's Committee on Fisheries (COFI), civil society organizations have actively worked at making their inputs known through a series of national and regional-level consultations in Asia, Latin America and Africa, initiated since September 2011. Specifically in Asia, consultations have been conducted in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. (Workshops in several remaining Asian countries are being planned in the coming months.) These workshops have forwarded concrete recommendations for improving the Voluntary Guidelines to represent the interests of small-scale fisherfolk.

A draft synthesis document has been prepared based on the reports and statements from these workshops. This synthesis document, once finalized, will be used to provide formal comments from civil society to the FAO on the zero draft of the Voluntary Guidelines, by 31 January 2013, in time for the preparation of the second draft in February and the actual negotiations in May next year.

This activity seeks to draw unities from CSOs and advocates engaged in fisheries in Asia-Pacific Region. Participants will discuss and comment on the draft synthesis document, to reach agreement on key recommendations.