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Illuminating Hidden Harvests: The contributions of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development

Executive summary









FAO, Duke University & WorldFish. 2023. Illuminating Hidden Harvests: The contributions of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development  Executive summary. Rome.



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    Report of the workshop on “How to leverage the Illuminating Hidden Harvests approach for better small-scale fisheries data", Rome, 14–15 March 2023 2024
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    The workshop on How to leverage the Illuminating Hidden Harvests approach for better small-scale fisheries data explored how the results and methodology of the study Illuminating Hidden Harvests: The contributions of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development study (IHH) can be leveraged to support the improvement of small-scale fisheries data, with a view to inform management and policy. The IHH is a global initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Duke University and WorldFish carried out in support of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). The IHH report, published in March 2023, provides new evidence about the benefits, interactions and impacts of small-scale fisheries to inform policy and practice.This workshop focused on sub-Saharan Africa as a starting point; however, in the future, collaboration and support could extend to other regions. The workshop concluded that there is considerable value in both the IHH approach and the data already collected that can be capitalized on, at both national and regional levels, taking country priorities into account. Small-scale fisheries organizations should be further empowered for engagement in relevant policy processes by equipping them with IHH data and information, and partnerships should be sought also outside the fisheries sector. Tailored communication pathways and products for diverse audiences will be needed, including multiple language translations and simplified versions of the IHH report. Using the IHH results and approach wisely will help improve the knowledge on the subsector and contribute to sustainable development.
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    Book (stand-alone)
    The contribution of small-scale fisheries to healthy food systems and sustainable livelihoods in the Southern African Development Community 2024
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    This Small-scale Fisheries Brief is tailored to provide insight into the contribution of small-scale fisheries to healthy food systems and sustainable livelihoods in the the Southern African Development Community (SADC).SADC comprises 16 Member States that lie in southern sub-Saharan Africa. The region is rich in aquatic resources, with vast inland waterbodies and marine waters. The fisheries sector generates immense social, economic and nutritional value, which acts as a lifeline for millions of people within the region. In 2021, over 3.1 million tonnes of fish were harvested from freshwater and marine capture fisheries in the SADC region. Capture fisheries are dominated by small-scale fisheries, with many countries having almost exclusively small-scale fisheries relative to large-scale ones. More than 22.7 million women and men depend on small-scale fisheries for their livelihoods and subsistence.Strengthening the commitment and implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) within national policies and plans can help safeguard and enhance small-scale fisheries’ contributions to sustainable development and food systems in the SADC region. The Illuminating Hidden Harvests initiative has generated new evidence about the value of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development globally and within the SADC; evidence that has informed this brief.
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    The contribution of small-scale fisheries to healthy food systems and sustainable livelihoods in Uganda 2023
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    This Small-scale Fisheries Brief is tailored to provide insight into the contribution of small-scale fisheries to healthy food systems and sustainable livelihoods in Uganda. Over 10.2 million people are nourished from fish supplied from small-scale fisheries in Uganda, and at least 3.2 million people depend at least partially on small-scale fisheries livelihoods. The sector has an essential role in transforming Uganda’s food system by contributing to healthy and sustainable diets, equitable livelihoods and leaving no one behind in the fight against hunger and poverty. However, it faces multiple threats and challenges, such as shocks (due for example to climate change or COVID-19) and poor governance, which undermine the potential benefits to Uganda’s society and progress towards the SDGs. Strengthening the commitment and implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) can help safeguard and enhance small-scale fisheries’ contributions to sustainable development and food systems in Uganda. Strategies are needed to highlight the nutritional value of small, low-cost fish species and to address fish loss and waste across value chains, as well as to promote equitable trade, governance and utilization of fish as food.

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