The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) are the first international instrument dedicated entirely to the immensely important small-scale fisheries sector. They are the result of a long and intensive global bottom-up consultative process.
What makes the SSF Guidelines stand out is that they go beyond fisheries and highlight the rights of fishers and fish workers. In sum, they are about people, not just about fish. The SSF Guidelines are aimed at all actors striving to secure sustainable small-scale fisheries, to end hunger and poverty and strengthen human rights. They are a tool to guide dialogue, policy processes, and action at all levels, from local communities to global fora.
Get to know the SSF Guidelines
The principles in the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) address policies, strategies and legal frameworks concerning small-scale fisheries, but also other matters affecting lives and livelihood in fishing communities. They have a clear human rights-based approach, and they put people, rather than fish, in focus. The SSF Guidelines are global in scope, and they guide dialogue, policy processes and actions at national, regional and international level.
Latest news
FAO empowers small-scale fishers and traders through climate-smart post-harvest trainings in Namibia
10/09/2025
In support of Namibia’s efforts to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agri-food systems, FAO has strengthened its collaboration with small-scale fisheries (SSF) communities through two Training of Trainers (ToT) and two supervised training workshops held in Keetmanshoop and Rundu betw...
FAO trained women fisherfolk on values formation with team building activities to strengthen women organizations in coastal municipalities of the Philippines
09/10/2025
During the months of January, June, July and August of 2025, FAO in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Provincial Fishery Office (PFO) of Misamis Occidental conducted a series of trainings on values formation and team building for women in small-scale...
Recent publications
Solar energy and the cold chain. A guide for small-scale fisheries interventions
01/07/2025
The publication provides a layman's guide to the use of solar energy for cold chain purposes in small-scale fisheries. It provides general guidance for field-level operatives and decision-makers on the choices, benefits and challenges related to solar energy use and uptake in small-scale fisheries. It provides technical specifications to aid procurement of equipment...
Women's contribution to community livelihoods and nutritional security in the small-scale fisheries sector in Madagascar
19/05/2025
his document aims to shed light on the diverse contributions of women to small-scale fisheries, emphasizing their direct influence on the economic landscape, dietary diversity, nutritional intake, and household food security in Madagascar...
Other relevant instruments
- FAO's Blue Transformation
- The Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries
- The Voluntary Guidelines to support the progressive realization of the right to adequate food (the Right to Food Guidelines)
- The CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (the RAI Principles)
- The Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (the Voluntary Guidelines on Tenure)
- The UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas
- The UN Sustainable Development Goals (the SDGs)