Expectations run high as we look forward to meeting our brothers and sisters from five continents of the world representing small-scale fisheries (SSF) in the 3rd Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) SSF Summit. The Summit is a rare opportunity to immerse in the global waves of information, concerns and ideas on SSF and discuss issues together. It provides great scope to connect with SSF actors of the world.
The SSF Summit 2026 is taking place in a situation when the small-scale fish workers worldwide are being compelled to leave their traditional fishing jobs due to declining fish stocks, heavy pollution, unequal competition from larger and mechanised fishing boats and evictions by encroachments from sectors like industries, mining, merchant shipping and ports. Weak representation and lack of voice in resource management are underwriting marginalisation of SSF.
The contributions, protests and struggles of the small-scale fish workers had been instrumental in the adoption of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in June 2014 during the 31st Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries. First ever international instrument dedicated to small-scale fisheries, the FAO Voluntary Guidelines represented a global consensus on principles and guidance for small-scale fisheries governance and development. All member countries committed to implement the Guidelines through voluntary political endorsements, regional roadmaps, and dedicated National Plans of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF).
After 12 years we witness that only eight countries have approved or launched their respective National Plan of Action for SSF. Two countries are currently developing or expanding NPOA-SSF. Four countries, including India, have constituted their National Task Forces to take forward the NPOA-SSF process.
In the last (2nd) SSF Summit held in 2024 SSF representatives raised the poor rate of implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines and urged FAO to come out with country reports on implementation. Since then some development in initiatives towards implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines and preparation of country NPOA-SSF documents have been perceived. But all these have been too little to protect SSF from the challenges it is facing. We need to turn around before it is too late.
In the face of widespread resource depletion, increasing encroachments and imminent eviction the SSF is in dire need of legally recognised tenure rights to ensure their right to access, use and protect water bodies and fish resources for sustainable fishing and fish farming.
To cope with the plunder of fish resources by trawlers and mechanised fishing boats the SSF needs Preferential Access Rights to fish resources to be ensured by matching fishing efforts to maximum sustainable yield, spreading exclusive fishing zones for SSF, extending fishing ban period for mechanised boats, adhering the principle of scale subsidiarity to confer the first right of catch to SSF, restricting the fishing effort and catch of large scale fishing fleet, stopping destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling, purse seining, LED light fishing etc.
The large participation of women in SSF makes gender equality and equity an essential policy priority for the sector’s sustainability and resilience. At the same time, SSF is being severely affected by the climate crisis, making climate justice an urgent necessity. Climate-resilient fishing and fish-drying practices, insurance coverage and compensation for lives, fishing gear and housing, as well as support for lost fishing time, are urgently needed to protect fishing communities and sustain their livelihoods. SSF also requires greater access to finance, infrastructure, information, and occupational and social security, not only to safeguard the wellbeing and livelihoods of fishing communities, but also to enable them to continue providing the world with sustainable fish resources.
SSF Summit 2026 needs to send a strong and clear message to the FAO Committee on Fisheries and its member countries to take urgent and effective measures to protect small-scale fisheries.
SAVE WATER, SAVE FISH, SAVE FISHER PEOPLE.
Written by Pradip Chatterjee – President of National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF), India.
