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Social protection and sustainable natural resource management: initial findings and good practices from small-scale fisheries

Year of publication 2015

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 72 p.

Author Béné, C.;Devereux, S.;Roelen, K.;Fishery and Aquaculture Economics and Policy Division

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

ISBN 978-92-5-108772-5

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The paper explores how social protection interventions can be used to reduce the vulnerability and strengthen the resilience of households and communities who depend principally on renewable natural resources to sustain their livelihoods and food security, using the case of small-scale fisheries as an illustrative case. The paper identifies and reviews existing social protection policies, schemes and instruments with regard to their potential role in supporting the transition to sustainable natu ral resource management in fisheries, including the identification of universal and targeted social protection schemes and instruments that fisheries-dependent communities have access to, as well as how these groups are defined within the context of those policies. Special attention is given to social protection in the context of households’ disaster resilience. By providing an overview of the different sources of vulnerability and concrete examples of exclusion affecting actors in the fisheries sector, the document also increases awareness of the vulnerability of small-scale fishers and fish workers to natural and human-induced hazards as well as other social, economic or political risks. The paper shows that small-scale fishers and fishworkers are typically inadequately or totally unprotected. Very important is the recognition that social vulnerabilities are as significant as economic vulnerabilities, and that innovative interventions are needed to provide protections across the spec ific set of challenges that fishers face in each national and local context.

Language English

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    Report of the Global Conference on Small-Scale Fisheries - Securing sustainable small-scale fisheries: Bringing together responsible fisheries and social development. Bangkok, Thailand, 13-17 October 2008 / Rapport de la Conférence mondiale sur les pêches artisanales - Pour une pêche artisanale durable: Associer la pêche responsable au développement social. Bangkok, Thaïlande, 13-17 octobre 2008 / Informe de la Conferencia Mundial sobre la Pesca en Pequeña Escala - Garantizar la pesca en pequeña escala: Pesca responsable y desarrollo social unidos. Bangkok, Tailandia, 13-17 de octubre de 2008 2009
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    This report provides a summary of the presentations, panel statements and working group discussions of the Global Conference on Small-Scale Fisheries ¿ Securing sustainable small-scale fisheries: Bringing together responsible fisheries and social development, Bangkok, Thailand, 13¿ 17 October 2008. The conference reinforced the claim that small-scale fisheries have yet to fully realize their potential to significantly contribute to sustainable development and the attaining of the Unite d Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It identified several critical ways forward in securing sustainable small-scale fisheries that integrate social, cultural and economic development, address resource access and use rights issues guided by human rights principles, and recognize the rights of indigenous peoples.
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