Building Capacity for Implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines: Examples from the Pacific and the Caribbean Small Island Developing States

Abstract

In June 2014, the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) member states adopted the International Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). The current task is now for FAO member states and all partners to implement these SSF Guidelines. While many developing countries have in principle adopted the SSF Guidelines, their implementation may not unfold if the business of reforming ocean governance at the national and local levels does not occur. Governance reform outlined in the SSF Guidelines urgently calls for greater cooperation in developing countries between different sectors and disciplines. In particular, these SSF Guidelines require multiple layers of governance dialogue so that the articles of the Guidelines are communicated to those concerned and concrete solutions for small-scale fisheries’ actors are negotiated. Articles from Part 3 of the SSF Guidelines give provisions for countries to establish local governance structures and promote networks necessary to achieve policy coherence and cross-sectoral collaboration, and implement holistic and inclusive ecosystem approaches in the fisheries sector. The policy provisions for establishing networks within the SSF Guidelines also provide provision to address the special concerns of women and vulnerable and marginalized people in small-scale fisheries governance reform at the national and local levels. This chapter gives insight into the negotiating and consensus seeking process of the SSF Guidelines and highlights existing communication gaps. Based on this analysis, the chapter suggests necessary future action in capacity building of communication and negotiation skills.