This work is done through increasing their voices, participation and recognition of their tenure rights, by highlighting their local knowledge, values, cultures so that resilient sustainable livelihoods and food security is ensured.

Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) play a crucial role in food security and nutrition for many families, as well as an essential role in local economies, providing livelihood to many and enabling access to basic needs and services. However, SSF still lack recognition and decision-making power when it comes to ocean governance.

Furthermore, sustainable fisheries are both linked and dependent on biodiversity in the oceans and lakes. In developing countries, marine and coastal ecosystems are an important part of peoples’ food security, livelihoods, and human well-being.

This theme focuses on strengthening the recognition of SSF through supporting partner organisations in decision-making in policy arenas. SwedBio wishes to further strengthen the network-building of partners, and other relevant actors, in order to identify opportunities for synergies and collaboration.

Specifically, this theme works with the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SFF Guidelines) by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).