About
The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2022 the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022). FAO is the lead agency for celebrating the year in collaboration with other relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system.
IYAFA 2022 Celebrations
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone involved for joining the global call to action this #IYAFA2022, and for never giving up.
IYAFA 2022 vision statement
A world in which small-scale artisanal fishers, fishfarmers and fish workers are fully recognized and empowered to continue their contributions to human well-being, healthy food systems and poverty eradication through the responsible and sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture resources.
Why an International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture?
The global food system faces many complex challenges, including hunger, malnutrition and diet-related diseases, an ever-growing global population that needs sufficient and healthy food, the need to reduce food loss and waste, the depletion of natural resources and effects of climate change, as well as the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants are fundamental, essential and indispensable foods eaten by people around the world as part of healthy diets, cultural heritage and culinary tradition. Small-scale artisanal fishers and fish farmers produce a large portion of this food, and as such, IYAFA 2022 is an opportunity to highlight the importance of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture for our food systems, livelihoods, culture and the environment. Small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers hold enormous potential to promote transformative changes in how, by whom and for whom fish and fishery products are produced, processed and distributed – with positive ripple effects felt throughout the global food system.
Key Messages
VALUE FOR ALL
Support inclusive value chains for small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture
Access to markets, appropriate infrastructure, inclusive value chains enable fishers, fishfarmers and fishworkers to better provide affordable high-quality fish products, foster economic development and generate employment.
LIVING WELL
Secure social inclusion and well-being of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture
Decent working and living conditions are essential for small-scale fishers, fishfarmers and fishworkers to secure livelihoods and maintain their social, physical and cultural wellbeing.
NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US
Ensure effective participation of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture in building and strengthening enabling policy environments
Effective participation, supported by comprehensive data and information, in decision-making processes ensures that traditional knowledge and voices of fishers, fishfarmers and fishworkers and their organizations shape laws and policies relating to small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture.
WOMEN AND A CHANGING TIDE
Acknowledge that women and men in small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture are equal
Centralising the role women play in small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture is essential to women's empowerment and sustainable development.
RESOURCE STEWARDS
Use biodiversity sustainably for the longevity of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture
As custodians of shared resources fishers, fishfarmers and fishworkers have a fundamental role in ensuring the responsible management and sustainable use of living aquatic resources and their supporting ecosystems.
AWARE AND PREPARED
Increase the preparedness and adaptive capacity of small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture to environmental degradation, shocks, disasters and climate change
Fishers, fishfarmers and fishworkers are among the world's most vulnerable to environmental degradation, shocks, disasters and climate change. Policies and actions should support building resilience to these threats for the long-term continuity of the sectors.
NOURISHING NATIONS
Promote the contribution to healthy diets from small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture in sustainable food systems
Small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture have a fundamental role in contributing healthy, safe, affordable, and nutritious aquatic foods and products as part of global and local food systems.
What is 'Artisanal' and 'Small Scale'?
There is no universal definition of 'artisanal' or 'small-scale’ fisheries or aquaculture. In general, these terms describe fisheries and aquaculture that use relatively small production units with relatively low input and low output, and limited levels of technology and small capital investment. They are commonly managed on a family level, sometimes with a small group of employees, or at a community level. The fish are often sold in local markets but can also reach national and international markets. For the purpose of IYAFA, small-scale and artisanal are used interchangeably. Note that fishing for sport or recreation are commonly not called 'artisanal' or 'small-scale'.
Objective of the International Year
The objective of celebrating IYAFA 2022 is twofold: the Year aims to focus world attention on the role that small-scale fishers, fish farmers and fish workers play in food security and nutrition, poverty eradication and sustainable natural resource use – thereby increasing global understanding and action to support them. The celebration is also an opportunity to enhance dialogue between different actors, and not least to strengthen small-scale producers to partner up with one another and make themselves seen, heard and included in policy- and decision-making that shapes their everyday lives – all the way from local community level up to international and global fora.
Click here to access the full list of IYAFA 2022 events and publications
IYAFA Supporters help to promote awareness and action for small-scale artisanal fishers, fishfarmers and fish workers around the world.
They come from various sectors – international and regional bodies, farmers and producer organizations, academic and research institutions, civil society, governments, the private sector and more.
Together they are using their influence and networks to make IYAFA 2022 an international success by clearly communicating the importance of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture for our food systems and environment. Our supporters are spreading the word through media outlets, public events and campaigns. FAO is proud to be able to count on you!
Click here to access the full list of IYAFA 2022 supporters
The function of the International Steering Committee (ISC) provides overall guidance and assistance to the development and implementation of the IYAFA 2022 action plan, including the establishment of regional committees, as well as mobilization of political and financial support.
Their main role is to:
- Provide inputs and advice for the IYAFA 2022 Action Plan development;
- Provide guidance on the overall implementation of the IYAFA 2022 and fostering linkages with other relevant initiatives such as the Decade of Family Farming when appropriate;
- Identify opportunities and help promote IYAFA 2022 in relevant occasions;
- Provide feedback from and stimulate dialogue among the groups that each member of the IYAFA-ISC represents;
- Encourage the sharing of information on relevant IYAFA 2022 national/regional/global programs, activities and initiatives;
- Support the coordination of the activities of IYAFA 2022;
- Provide guidance and actively collaborate in the mobilization of financial support for the preparation and celebration of IYAFA 2022, and monitor the expenditure of the mobilized budget;
- Provide advice on main advocacy tools developed for the IYAFA;
- Provide input for the report to the General Assembly of the UN on the implementation of the IYAFA, as well as a legacy document;
- Endorse the scope and key messages of IYAFA.
Membership
The IYAFA-ISC is composed of representatives from each of the 7 FAO Regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Near East, North America and the Southwest Pacific) and representatives from global non-state actors in fisheries and aquaculture, and representatives from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The IYAFA ISC has up to 24 members, including:
- 7 Permanent Representatives (and 4 alternates) from FAO Regional Groups
- 2 Observers
- Up to 11 representatives from UN agencies and international organizations
Click here to access the full IYAFA ISC Membership list
