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Preparation of this document
This FAO technical paper on Securing sustainable small-scale fisheries: showcasing applied practices in value chains, post-harvest operations and trade was prepared under the auspices of the FAO Umbrella Programme for the Promotion and Application of the SSF Guidelines - Enhancing the Contribution of Small-Scale Fisheries to Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods (SSF Umbrella Programme), which was established following endorsement of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) by the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in 2014.
The SSF Umbrella Programme supports the development of policies to achieve implementation of the SSF Guidelines by promoting knowledge sharing and exchange of experiences. This technical paper supports that objective by showcasing a diverse selection (both topically and geographically) of initiatives designed to promote and improve market access by enhancing value chains, post-harvest operations and trade in small-scale fisheries, based on the recommendations contained in Chapter 7 of the SSF Guidelines.
Further impetus for this technical paper comes from recommendations of FAO governing bodies, including COFI, the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade (COFI:FT) and the Committee on World Food Security. COFI and COFI:FT have requested guidance on how to overcome challenges in complying with public and private requirements in small-scale fisheries, including certification and traceability. Likewise, they have recommended that FAO provide guidance for achieving equitable market access and distribution of benefits for small-scale fishers, including for products from inland fisheries. In addition, the two governing bodies have called for further work to strengthen capacity of post-harvest operators and their organizations in order to reduce post-harvest losses and improve processing techniques.
In June 2015, the Committee on World Food Security held a High-Level Forum on Connecting Smallholders to Markets1 to discuss challenges and consider lessons learned from examples of smallholders that have built sustainable linkages to markets. This meeting led to the endorsement of a set of policy recommendations, Connecting Smallholders to Markets,2 at the Committee's 43rd Session in 2016. The recommendations focus on the reduction of inequalities by addressing the challenges behind unequal access to markets, land and other natural resources. This document seeks to reinforce those recommendations by providing examples from a fisheries-specific context.
Finally, the...