Paper Prepared For Fao Regional Workshop On Economic Strenghtening Of Fisheries Industries In Small Island Developing States In The South Pacific

This report indicates that climate change will significantly affect the availability and trade of fish products, especially for those countries most dependent on the sector, and calls for effective adaptation and mitigation actions encompassing food production.

The 2018 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture emphasizes the sector’s role in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and measurement of progress towards these goals. It notes the particular contributions of inland and small-scale fisheries, and highlights the importance of rights-based governance for equitable and inclusive development. As in past editions, the publication begins with a global analysis of trends in fisheries and aquaculture production, stocks, processing and use, trade and consumption, based on the latest official statistics, along with a review of the status of the world’s fishing fleets and human engagement and governance in the sector. Topics explored in Parts 2 to 4 include aquatic biodiversity; the ecosystem approach to fisheries and to aquaculture; climate change impacts and responses; the sector’s contribution to food security and human nutrition; and issues related to international trade, consumer protection and sustainable value chains. Global developments in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, selected ocean pollution concerns and FAO’s efforts to improve capture fishery data are also discussed. The issue concludes with the outlook for the sector, including projections to 2030. As always, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to provide objective, reliable and up-to- date information to a wide audience, including policy-makers, managers, scientists, stakeholders and indeed all those interested in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) as a livelihood contribute to food and nutrition security, poverty alleviation and economic development in the Pacific Islands region, which has to face challenges of population growth, climate change impacts and geographical remoteness. The SSF Guidelines are an important tool for securing sustainable SSF governance and development. This final report presents the strategic development process for the guidelines, which consisted of an extensive consultation process with governments, regional organizations, civil-society organizations (CSOs) and small-scale fishers, fish workers and their communities. The consultation brought together 38 participants representing governments, the fishing industry and CSOs from 17 countries and territories in the Pacific Islands region to share experiences with SSF policies and practices, and to provide advice for improvement of the guidelines. It also emphasised the importance of encouraging policies to protect small-scale fisheries livelihoods, to promote income opportunities and to emphasise the socio-economic and cultural importance of small-scale fisheries for the Pacific islands region.