Ocean Conference Side Event: The Fish of the Poor
Small Pelagic resources, key for small-scale fisheries contribution to SDGs
Termin: 6. Juni 2017, 11-12.30 Uhr
Ort: In the Mezzanine of the German Mission to the UN, 871 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ)
German NGO Forum on Environment and Development
Bread for the World
fair-oceans
Populations of small pelagic fish (such as sardine, anchovy, herring, capelin, mackerel, and others) provide about 25% of the total annual yield of capture fisheries. They are the largest species group landed globally. Small pelagics contain all elements for a healthy nutritionally optimal food source and thus can contribute to food and nutritional security of many poor, low-income households. The well-being of many coastal communities around the world, particularly in developing countries, depends critically on these resources. However, small pelagics are not sufficiently used for human consumption. A significant proportion of this nutrient-rich food is processed and lost to livestock feed, fish feed and fish oil in aquaculture, pet food and omega-rich vitamins. Small pelagics with their high fat-content tend to spoil easily which can result in high post-harvest losses.
Discards and illegal fishing are a further thread for small-scale fisheries to supply women-led economies that transform fish for human consumption. Â Overfishing by industrial fisheries already leads to high prices for small pelagics. In some countries there is a shortage of fish resources for the processing sector, typically by women, in the low fishing season.
Catch, transformation and consumption of small-pelagics are needed to achieve the SDGs goals 1, 2, 3 and 5 for people living in coastal areas and for consumers in poor countries. Therefore, the protection of these nutritionally important resources for local consumption and ensuring privileged access for small scale fisheries to small pelagic fish would be an important step in addressing malnutrition and reducing poverty.
Fisheries management plans, marine protection, catch licenses and fisheries agreements should thus acknowledge the rights of small scale fisheries as described in the Voluntary Guidelines on Sustainable Small Scale Fisheries (VGSSF) of the FAO.
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This side event will feature the following speakers:
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- Opening remarks and introduction
Francisco Mari, Bread for the World
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- Overview of state of small-pelagic fish stocks and contribution to livelihood of SSF and food security
Nicole Franz, FAO
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- A country example to improve regional small pelagic fish supply: Mauretania
Kristin Kistowski, GIZ
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- Fish for the poor- a perspective from the Indian Ocean
Herman Kumara, National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, Sri Lanka and Robert Panippilla, (Friends of Marine Life), India
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Chair: Marie-Luise Abshagen, German NGO Forum on Environment and Development
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***This side event is free and open to the public***