Strengthening artisanal fishery governance

Introduction

This initiative is a Triangular Cooperation effort, developed with the support of the ADELANTE Window, aimed at promoting sustainability, joint management, and equity in the governance of small-scale fisheries in Brazil.

The National Commission for the Strengthening of Extractive Reserves and Traditional Coastal and Marine Extractive Peoples (CONFREM) in Brazil seeks to enhance knowledge on the conservation and sustainable use of marine ecosystems, while contributing equitably to food security, poverty eradication, and the improved quality of life of small-scale fishers.

This initiative is supported by:

• The National Confederation of Artisanal Fishers of Chile (CONAPACH), which shares its experience in public-private joint management of fishing coves and expertise in integrating a gender-based approach into the development and sustainable management of small-scale fisheries in Chile.
• The Lonja de Conil Artisanal Fishers Organisation (OPP72) and the Andalusian Agency for International Development Cooperation (AACID) from Spain, which bring European expertise in planning, developing, and modernising the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Andalusia, with a focus on:
  • Marine environment conservation
  • Establishing and promoting fishing and aquaculture producers’ organisations
  • Recognising and strengthening sustainable fisheries governance

Objectives

This Initiative seeks to harness the knowledge of the Partnership's Provider entities to transfer their model of governance of the small-scale fishing sector, characterised by the sustainable local use of resources and the conservation of marine ecosystems, with a gender-based approach and the participation of Indigenous peoples.

Project activities

This initiative was structured around five key activities, aimed at connecting and adapting experiences in small-scale fisheries governance from Chile and Spain to the Brazilian context. 

Key activities included:

• Capacity building: training professionals and researchers from the University of Pinar del Río (Cuba) and FEDOMU (Dominican Republic) in business incubation methodologies.
• Model implementation: adapting and applying a comprehensive methodology for developing sustainable social economy enterprises, originally from Mexico, refined with European expertise to fit the Cuban and Dominican contexts.
• Policy development: leveraging shared knowledge to develop roadmaps aimed at shaping public policies for local economic development, with strong emphasis on women and youth entrepreneurship.
• Research collaboration: facilitating knowledge exchange among Partnership entities to co-create management models aligned with cooperative values and people-centred approaches.
• Community engagement: addressing social and cultural factors influencing entrepreneurship to foster a supportive ecosystem for women and youth-led businesses.

Results

Through this Triangular Cooperation Initiative, the knowledge and expertise of the Partnership member entities and collaborating organisations in small-scale fisheries governance—rooted in sustainability, joint management, and equity—were leveraged to develop a model that integrates local resources and knowledge. This model can also be shared and adapted by other countries in the region.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

This initiative directly supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, particularly by:

• Effectively regulating fisheries exploitation and ending overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as destructive fishing practices.
• Facilitating access to marine resources and markets for small-scale fishers.

By fostering collaboration, sustainability, and equitable governance, this initiative contributes to inclusive and sustainable development in the small-scale fisheries sector.

Implementing partner

Andalusian Agency for International Development Cooperation - AACID