Small-Scale Fisheries Must Be Placed at Very Centre of Global Policy Conversations, Speaker Tells Nice Panel
NICE, FRANCE, 11 June — Small-scale fisheries cannot be sidelined in global discussions on the sustainable management of the oceans, a panellist urged at the UN Ocean Conference today, emphasizing that declarations alone are insufficient and what’s urgently needed is implementation.
The morning panel — the fifth of 10 scheduled this week — focused on “Fostering sustainable fisheries management, including supporting all-scale fishers”. Moderated by Alfredo Giron, Head of Ocean at the World Economic Forum, the discussion highlighted key threats facing global fisheries, including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. While serious, Mr. Giron noted that progress is being made to address overexploitation. He underscored that although the challenges are significant, robust frameworks and growing expertise are paving the way for real solutions.
Bui Thanh Son, Deputy Prime Minister of Viet Nam and one of the panel’s Co-Chairs, said fisheries provide a vital source of protein for billions of people, and that sustainable fisheries and management are critical to fighting poverty and driving development. Viet Nam has a rich fishing sector — accounting for 5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and providing livelihoods for millions — but is facing mounting challenges due to climate change and biodiversity loss.
Co-Chair Marija Vučković, Minister for Environmental Protection and Green Transition of Croatia, said effective management is only possible with robust systems that strengthen capacities not only at sea but across the entire value chain. “Sustainability cannot be achieved in isolation”, no matter how well-designed. Only coordinated action can achieve game changing progress. She said that regional fisheries management organizations play a crucial role, and only succeed if “we — the parties — stay engaged”.
Qu Dongyu, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the panel’s first speaker, said that his organization has supported global efforts to collect and analyze fisheries data for decades. “We play an essential role in shaping the global governance framework”, he added, also stating: “We need to take decisive action to turn all the challenges into opportunities.” Otherwise, he warned, those threats will continue to deepen inequality and instability worldwide. “Of course we have a lot of challenges”, he went on to say, stressing the urgent need for effective management plans to ensure sustainable fish stocks.
“We have seen such affordable and high-quality tuna make it to market because we have sustainable safeguards”, he said. To protect the oceans, he emphasized, strong fisheries governance is essential: “We need data and evidence-based information”, he said. He highlighted the critical role of small-scale fisheries, which account for 40 per cent of all fish caught globally. They are not just producers, they are the guardians of biodiversity, nutrition providers and economic boosters within communities. “That is why it is so important to implement small scale fisheries guidelines”, he said. “We can do more and better together.”
Pio Manoa, Assistant Director-General for the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, discussed the outcomes of the Honiara Summit, which recently brought together leaders from across the Pacific. He noted that 37.7 per cent of global fish stocks are classified as overfished, highlighting the crucial role of regional bodies. Regional cooperation on data and science, he emphasized, underpins efforts to address these overfishing challenges. Focusing on the Pacific island region, he said political leaders recently agreed on a declaration identifying key issues specific to the region.
Based on scientific data, 20 per cent of the tuna biomass is projected to decline by 2050. “The Pacific region is doing its part to make sure that the sustainability of tuna stocks in particular”, he said. The Pacific region currently produces over 50 per cent of the world’s tuna supply, he said, noting that international partners should invest in the Pacific and support initiatives led by Pacific Island countries. He also called for stronger commitment and increased financial support to help strengthen Government-led fisheries management.
Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans for the European Union, said that fish stocks have been restored in several regions of his bloc and that overfishing has decreased substantially. Despite these gains, he acknowledged that significant challenges remain. “We must deal with a triple planetary crisis, adopt innovative techniques and equipment, and attract young people to the sector for generational renewal”, he said, noting that a series of actions and initiatives are already under way. He emphasized that small-scale fisheries are a vital part of European Union communities and represent most of the fishing vessels registered in the bloc. However, the small-scale fleet faces mounting pressures, especially due to the ongoing energy crisis.
He stressed the need for both small- and large-scale operators to receive a fair share of resources “in a transparent way”. Transparency and participation in local fisheries decision-making and implementation processes are essential, he added. European Union-funded programmes in other regions have already contributed to improved fisheries management. The Union, he affirmed, is committed to ambitious action on multiple fronts to ensure a sustainable future for the fisheries sector — particularly for small-scale coastal fisheries.
Edithrudith Lukanga, Secretary General of the African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network, said it was important that today’s discussion focuses on commitment and action to support implementation of SDG 14. She noted she was speaking not just as a representative of small-scale fisheries, but as someone “deeply rooted in this reality”.
She recalled how, through her experience, she had seen small-scale fishermen and women impacted by governance challenges. “Instead of focusing on the challenges, let’s focus on the solutions”, she said. “If we want to have sustainable fisheries, we must be intentional by putting small-scale fish workers at the heart of governance as stewards”, she added. No matter how small the solutions are, “let’s scale them up”.
In the United Republic of Tanzania, she highlighted, the Ministry of Livestock is helping communities integrate climate resilience into sustainable fisheries management. Fishing communities now have access to 24-hour weather forecasts, which they use to make informed decisions — a simple yet powerful tool that contributes to reducing post-harvest losses.
“We have the solutions, why don’t we scale this up”, she said. Women, often invisible in policy, are essential actors in trade, she stressed, adding that small-scale fisheries cannot be an afterthought, but must be placed at the very centre of global policy conversations.
Ussif Rashid Sumaila, Professor for Ocean and Fisheries Economics at the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Darius Campbell, Co-Chair for the Regional Fisheries Body Secretariats Network of the United Kingdom, offered additional remarks as lead discussants. The panel was followed by an interactive discussion featuring representatives of Member States as well as civil society speakers.