Ratana Chuenpagdee, TBTI Global Foundation, Thailand
Svein Jentoft, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Norway
Jose Pascual-Fernández, University of La Laguna (Tenerife), Spain
Katia Frangoudes, University of Brest, France

Ratana Chuenpagdee, TBTI Global Foundation, Thailand

Suvaluck Satumanatpan, Mahidol University, Thailand

Eva Coronado, NES, Unidad Merida, UNAM, Mexico

As challenges in fisheries management become increasingly visible and recognized, a shift to governance seems inevitable. But how and where to begin, and do they always imply policy reform and transformative governance, as have often been called for?

The common saying that fisheries management is not about managing the fish but about managing the people is a step in the right direction. But that is not governance. From the governance perspective, fisheries management is about managing the fish (and fisheries resources) ‘with’ the people. In many jurisdictions, provisions have been made to enable fishers to participate in fisheries management. This collaborative and participatory form of management is often referred to as ‘co-management,’ although there can be more to the term. ‘Co-governance’, for instance, would involve, not only sharing of the management responsibility but also sharing of power to make decision about fisheries, including in designing policies and regulations. Under this mode, local, traditional and Indigenous knowledge can play a key role, along with other scientific evidences, in fisheries management. In line with the SSF Guidelines, these are the small steps from management to governance that can help support and promote small-scale fisheries sustainability. Policy and legal reform may be needed eventually but it is not a precondition. There are also lessons that we can learn from along the way, as shared by Suvaluck Sathumanatpan about Thailand and Eva Coronado about Mexico.

Ratana Chuenpagdee, TBTI Global Foundation, Thailand

Katia Frangoudes, University of Brest, France

Anas Shoebullah Khan, The University of Winnipeg, Dried Fish Matters project, Canada

Nova Montilla Almine, Memorial University / TBTI Global, Canada

March 8th is International Women’s Day, and for the month of March, or perhaps the whole year, or even better – everyday, we could reflect on the important role that women play in fisheries throughout the value chain, recognizing that more needs to be done to address gender equality.

As called for in the SSF Guidelines, concerted efforts are required to address gender equality. 

“All parties should recognize that achieving gender equality requires concerted efforts by all and that gender mainstreaming should be an integral part of all small-scale fisheries development strategies” (SSF Guidelines , FAO 2015).

This is what TBTI has been trying to do with the work of Prof. Katia Frangoudes University of Brest, who leads the research cluster on ‘Women and Gender.’  With Prof. Siri Siri Gerrard, and several other colleagues, she has put together two publication volumes focusing on women in fisheries, arguing for gender equality in access to quota, decision-making, and in health and safety workplace.

While some women participate in fishing and shellfish gathering, the majority of women involving in fisheries are in post-harvest sector. They take part in fish processing, marketing and trade of the fish. They are, in effect, the most important contributors to the dried fish economy. We are learning more about this through the work of the Dried Fish Matters project, which has been instrumental in making visible the role of women in the processing sector, highlighting the need to do better at protecting the rights of women (and children) involved in dried fish, through legal and policy framework and improvement of post-harvest and market infrastructure. We are learning about this with the work of early career researchers, Anas Shoebullah Khan, University of Winnipeg, in India, and Nova Almine, Memorial University, in Thailand.

Like the work of women in fisheries that does not end, the number of researchers and practitioners interested in women and gender issues in fisheries keep growing. Here’s an upcoming opportunity to learn more about this and contribute to the discussion about gender equality and justice: https://gafconference.org/. The conference will be held in Thailand in October this year.

José J. Pascual-Fernández, University of La Laguna, Spain

Md Ruyel Miah, University of Waterloo, Canada

Synopsis

Research about post-harvest activities has not received a lot of attention, especially when compared to pre-harvest and harvest. This has recently changed, however, with the increased volume in fish trade and the enhanced value chain. From the small-scale fisheries perspective, the Voluntary Guidelines on Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (FAO 2015) have a section about value chain and trade, emphasizing the need to recognize the role of post-harvest actors in small-scale fisheries, women in particular. Countries are urged to enable participation of value chain actors in decision-making process, and to invest in appropriate infrastructure and capacity development to support the production of high-quality fish and fishery products. Further, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, Target 14b, efforts should be made to help secure access to resources and markets for small-scale fisheries. This is especially pertinent for products from small-scale fisheries, which are already part of, or may become new entries in, regional and international markets. A close look at small-scale fisheries value chain is imperative given the current discussion about the guidance on social responsibility in the fisheries and aquaculture value chains, which the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is working on, as part of the COFI Sub-Committee on Fish Trade.

In this episode, we will hear about a neat initiative led by Jose Pascual, University of La Laguna, Spain, one of TBTI founding members, in enhancing small-scale fisheries value chain. He introduced locally caught tuna from Canary Islands into a school lunch program, creating thus alternative demands and markets for small-scale fisheries. The program also helps kids learn more about and fisheries and strengthen their connection to the coastal communities.

We'll also hear from Ruyel Miah, who has recently graduated with a PhD from University of Waterloo, Canada, adds another layer of complexity, pointing out through his research the risk and vulnerability of small-scale fisheries, especially women, in disaster prone areas. His work in Bangladesh and India reveals how vulnerable small-scale fisheries along the value chain are when faced with cyclone and other threats. In these instances, habitats and fish may be protected – but the real question is what kind of protection do small-scale fisheries get. 

Ratana Chuenpagdee, TBTI Global Foundation, Thailand

Svein Jentoft, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Norway

Jewel Das, University of Bremen, Germany / University of Chittagong, Bangladesh

Jaime Ramón Bruquetas, University of La Laguna (Tenerife), Spain

Yinji Li, Tokai University, Japan