THE CIHEAM CELEBRATES THE IYAFA 2022

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2022, the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture #IYAFA2022. It will be an opportunity to showcase the potential and diversity of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture and point out the benefits which can be gained from facilitating partnerships and cooperation with fishers, fish farmers, and fish workers and as well in achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The CIHEAM will take part in this celebration by organizing several events contributing to raising awareness on the role of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean region and strengthening science-policy interaction on these issues.

Indeed supporting sustainable fisheries and coastal development in the Mediterranean Region, through training, research, capacity building, and cooperation activities is a priority for the CIHEAM and its member countries.

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The SSF Forum

The CIHEAM, via the CIHEAM Bari Institute, is also associated with the Small-Scale Fishers’ Forum (SSF Forum) a series of workshops organized by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and the “Friends of SSF” that takes place from February 2022 to October 2022.

Launched in 2020, the SSF Forum is a space where small-scale fishers from across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea come together to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and build their capacities to deal with the many common challenges they face both at sea and in a broader context.

Key themes to be addressed during the training and educational workshops this year include the importance of data collection in fishery decision-making, and how small-scale fishers can increase their involvement with it and participate more fully in management planning. Innovation in value chains is also in the spotlight – specifically, where it offers openings for fishers to add value to their products without having to increase the quantity of fish they land. Diversification can also create new revenue streams for fishing communities, and there will be a workshop on fishing tourism and other ways through which fishers can supplement the income they receive from their catches.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE INITIATIVES
The IYAFA Website: https://www.fao.org/artisanal-fisheries-aquaculture-2022/home/en/ The SSF Forum: https://www.fao.org/gfcm/activities/fisheries/small-scale-fisheries/ssfforum and the Friends of SSF The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)