Briefing

Fisheries; Sustainable markets

Keywords:
Financing for development, food
systems, sustainable fisheries,
small-scale producers, biodiversity

Issue date
November 2023

Policy Philanthropy’s role in sustaining

pointers fisheries for people and nature
Increased funding from Small-scale fisheries (SSF) and their communities, numbering about half a billion
philanthropic
organisations for the people, are the largest group of ocean users and are central to achieving
small-scale fisheries Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life below water). Their multigenerational
sector can help progress
a range of Sustainable knowledge and stewardship experience are critical for sustainable fisheries
Development Goals, management, biodiversity conservation and climate action, and they play a pivotal
including on biodiversity,
climate, gender equality role in food security and good nutrition. Yet SSF worldwide are neglected due to
and hunger.
lack of data, recognition and investment, and they face extreme risks arising from
Using their convening inequitable governance, overfishing and the impacts of climate change.
power and influence, Philanthropy can provide flexible, patient funds to help local actors implement
philanthropic
organisations can lasting solutions and showcase what catalytic interventions and thriving
advocate for the rights of
small-scale fishers and for communities can look like. It can also stimulate new, innovative financing for SSF
the central role these through collaborating with public and private institutions and, in doing so,
fishers play in managing
resources and maintaining increase SSF’s benefits to society.
a healthy ocean.
Small-scale fishers and fish workers are the challenges related to limited accounting and
Philanthropic funding for largest group of users of the ocean and are central recognition, climate change, inequitable
fisheries and coastal to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) governance and ineffective management.
ecosystems should flow
directly to entities that 14 (Life below water). The small-scale fisheries
Recognition of the role and potential of SSF in
enable local fisheries (SSF)1 sector is directly addressed in SDG Target
global food systems and sustainable development
organisations to influence 14.b (“Provide access for small-scale artisanal
spending, as this supports is growing, as indicated by the United Nations’
fishers to marine resources and markets”).
the best outcomes for designation of 2022 as the International Year of
Working with small-scale fishing communities is
people and nature. Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture. Yet SSF and
also a critical pathway towards other goals,
the communities they support still do not receive
including SDGs 1 (No poverty), 2 (Zero hunger),
Philanthropic the attention or investment they need to thrive.
organisations can catalyse
5 (Gender equality), 8 (Decent work and economic
Philanthropic organisations alone cannot fill the
new funding flows for growth) and 13 (Climate action).2
finance gap for SSF, but their flexibility, networks
small-scale fisheries by
taking a collaborative
SDG 14 has to date received the least investment and influence position them well to change
approach and providing of any of the SDGs3 and is among the least narratives, support locally led action, and unlock
seed capital for higher-risk targeted by private philanthropy.4 An estimated new and innovative funding flows.
solutions. US$175 billion per year is needed to achieve
SDG 14 by 2030, yet less than US$10 billion was Small-scale fisheries’ benefits to
invested between 2015 and 2019.5 While people and planet
fisheries and their value chains received a Supporting livelihoods and economies
substantial amount of this funding, only a small
National surveys estimate that 492 million people
portion was dedicated to SSF.6 This imbalance
depend at least partially on SSF for employment
limits the SSF sector’s ability to overcome

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IIED Briefing

and/or subsistence.2 This equates to 6.6% of the important source of nutrition in coastal and
world’s population in 2016 and 13.2% of the riparian communities, including among
population of the 45 least developed countries.2 non-fishing households.2
90% of all people who work in the fisheries
sector are employed in SSF, Protecting and conserving aquatic
ecosystems
Philanthropic nearly half of them women
(Box 1).2
Small-scale fishers, fish workers and their
organisations are uniquely SSF also produce an communities are uniquely placed to protect and

placed to advocate for the estimated 40% of the

global catch, generating
conserve the aquatic resources they live alongside
and depend on, with benefits for both nature and
rights of the SSF sector 44% of total global landed
catch revenue.2 This
climate. A survey of 151 SSF organisations
worldwide found the vast majority have objectives
revenue is more than that relating to harvesting and sustainable fisheries
generated by the largest ocean industries, management, and most closely associate these
including cruise tourism, port activities and with human wellbeing.2 Usually firmly rooted in
offshore wind power.2 Moreover, SSF activities are communities, cultures and values, SSF also bring
not only economically beneficial, but a way of life local and traditional knowledge and practices into
and culture centred on multigenerational fisheries management.2
knowledge and values.2
Fishing grounds that SSF communities govern
Providing food security and nutrition and manage, and Indigenous territories, are
critical to the post-2020 Global Biodiversity
Aquatic foods contribute more than 50% of total Framework’s ‘30 x 30’ target to protect 30%
animal protein to diets in some countries.7 They of the planet by 2030.10 In coastal areas,
also provide essential omega-3 fatty acids and local communities and Indigenous Peoples
micronutrients critical for human health and are often better guardians of biodiversity
development, particularly for women and children.2 than governments.11,12
Fish and other aquatic animals are on average
richer in these nutrients and their production often Challenges facing small-scale
has less environmental impact than land-based fisheries
meat production.8 Lack of recognition and investment
On average, coastal SSF contribute more than
SSF enterprises typically operate outside of
30% of the nutrients supplied by marine foods
formal economies — often in family units —
and 10% of all nutrients, and even more in
without registration or keeping official accounts,
countries where nutrition levels are low.9 Inland
and dispersed across remote areas. They
fisheries, which produce a third of the global SSF
therefore tend to be poorly captured in national
catch, are a relatively accessible and affordable
statistics.2 Aside from limiting effective fisheries
source of nutrition for the landless poor compared
management, this lack of official data has led to
with farmed foods.2 SSF are a particularly
inadequate institutional support and political
recognition. Fisheries policies and investments
Box 1. Gender in small-scale fisheries2 have historically focused on economic and
biodiversity conservation objectives, overlooking
Nearly 45 million women are engaged in the SSF sector worldwide, SSF as a central component of ocean economies
representing close to 40% of the total workforce. Women make up nearly half and global food systems.
the workforce in post-harvest activities such as processing, trading and
This has also limited investment in public health
marketing. New estimates also show that women comprise 45% of those
services, financial services, social protection,
involved in fishing for subsistence — typically harvesting from the shoreline on
education and infrastructure for SSF
foot or from small, non-motorised vessels — and nearly 19% of the
communities.2 As a result, SSF actors are often
commercial fishing workforce.
disadvantaged in accessing markets.13 Although
Although these activities are critical to household economies and small their catch increasingly enters regional and global
enterprises, women’s participation in the sector is less likely to be registered and markets, SSF actors rarely have the power,
accounted for in official statistics compared to men’s. Hence it is poorly information or capital to reap rewards.2
understood and undervalued. This leads to gender disparities in pay and in
Together with limited opportunities outside the
access to resources, governance, financing, social protection, technology,
sector, these factors underpin the vulnerability of
training, mobility, markets and bargaining power. Yet women stand to
SSF communities to shocks and stresses such as
disproportionately benefit from involvement in SSF in terms of income and
those arising from climate change, market
nutrition. Actions that enable women’s access to fisheries resources and related
fluctuations, and fisheries management and
decision making can have ripple effects across generations and wider society.
conservation interventions.
IIED Briefing

A changing climate opportunities to maximise the contributions of

the SSF sector to people and nature:
Fisheries face high levels of climate risk,
particularly in the tropics, small island developing 1. Increase investment in sustainable
states and areas facing interacting stressors and equitable SSF
such as overfishing.6,7 Warming waters affect the
availability and stability of catches, and Philanthropic funding for ocean-related issues
increasingly extreme and frequent weather has been increasing. Overall, it doubled between
events cause mounting infrastructure and 2010 and 2020, and funding for fisheries and
equipment loss and damage throughout the their value chains grew from US$102 million to
value chain.6 US$167 million.5 And while philanthropic funding
for SSF also increased (from US$1 million in 2010
Despite contributing relatively little to global
to about US$20 million in 2020) it still comprises
emissions, SSF communities’ reliance on
only about 17% of philanthropic investment in
coastlines and floodplains for food and livelihoods
fisheries, and less than 2% of total philanthropy.5
makes them particularly exposed and vulnerable
to sudden shocks such as storms and to changes For every US$1,000 of global philanthropy,
in catch and income.2 coastal SSF receive only an estimated 10 cents,
while most ocean-related funding goes to large
Inequitable governance and marine protected areas and industrial fisheries.11
ineffective management Given the numbers of people who rely on SSF
and its relevance in addressing broader societal
Fishing is the primary driver of global marine
challenges, this balance needs to shift (Box 2).
biodiversity loss, and fishers increasingly need to
put more effort into catching fewer fish.6 While 2. Advocate for the SSF sector
fisheries management and conservation
Given their convening power and ability to shape
interventions are therefore essential, they
narratives of change, philanthropic organisations
typically fail to recognise and respect the rights of
are uniquely placed to advocate for the rights of
SSF communities, to ensure fair decision making,
the SSF sector, amplifying voices and influencing
transparency, accountability and dispute
both public policy and markets. This advocacy
resolution, or to fairly distribute costs and
can build on the momentum of the sector’s Call to
benefits. This ultimately reduces the
Action and Rules of Conduct for working with
effectiveness of interventions and leaves fish
stocks vulnerable to overexploitation, reducing
the benefits SSF can provide.2
Box 2. Potential areas for investment in SSF
Forms of governance that enable resource users’
Supporting locally led action for climate and nature. SSF communities
participation, such as co-management, are most
have long adapted to change, developed innovative solutions to challenges
appropriate for SSF. But while 40% of the
and generated their own finance. Their achievement of impacts at scale is
estimated global SSF catch comes from fisheries
underappreciated. Philanthropy can increase these efforts’ visibility in
governed through national-level co-management
national and international arenas and build SSF actors’ capacity to receive
policies, less than half these arrangements
external finance.
involve meaningful local participation, and
small-scale fishers rarely have tenure rights that Enabling and incentivising sustainable fisheries management. Fisheries
incentivise sustainable use and management.2 management is often ineffective because of its failure to recognise and
mitigate negative social and economic impacts on fishers and fish workers or
Other national- and international-level decision
to incentivise behaviour change. One solution is for governments to leverage
making relating to the ocean also generally
and adapt social protection and active labour market systems and
excludes most fishers, fish workers and their
programmes to support and incentivise fishers’ and fish workers’ participation
organisations.2 The rise of the ‘blue economy’
in management, while also reducing their vulnerability to poverty and building
agenda, which frames the ocean as a new
climate resilience.14 Philanthropy can help scale these approaches by
economic and development frontier, has ignited
supporting design, testing and early adoption to demonstrate proof of concept.
concern in the SSF community — which it has
described as ‘blue fear’ — about threats posed by Integrating SSF into the global food system transformation agenda.
more powerful sectors such as oil, gas and deep Aquatic foods, and particularly SSF, are typically left out of wider food system
sea mining. policy and practice. While SSF have enormous potential to contribute to
sustainable food systems, in comparison to industrial fisheries and
The opportunities for agriculture, little is known about their value chains, their place in food systems
philanthropy transformation and the potential impacts of transformation on the sector.12
Philanthropic funding can support efforts to include aquatic foods in the food
As early movers and enablers of change,
systems transformation agenda and ensure equitable processes and
philanthropic organisations concerned with
outcomes for SSF globally.
sustainable development have four key
IIED Briefing

small-scale fishers and fish workers,15 and follow enables local accountability and builds on
the human-rights-based approach of the UN collective action, supporting cost effectiveness
Food and Agriculture Organization’s Voluntary and efficiency.17
Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale
Fisheries (SSF Guidelines).16 In doing so, 4. Catalyse new and innovative Knowledge
philanthropic organisations can help ensure that funding flows Products
the people most at risk from threats to aquatic
Philanthropy can provide seed funding that
resources participate in and benefit from
complements and catalyses other private and The International Institute
solutions, ultimately maximising the impacts of for Environment and
public financing flows.18 Generating a return on
investment in the sector. Development (IIED)
investment in SSF, particularly in SSF
promotes sustainable
Philanthropic organisations engaging in management, can be challenging. It can take time development, linking local
agendas related to, but not focused on, fisheries to change behaviour and for behaviour change to priorities to global
or the ocean — such as climate, nutrition, influence sustainability, and impacts can be challenges. We support
gender and jobs — would also benefit from difficult to measure and prove. This deters some of the world’s most
considering SSF’s potential role in their governments from borrowing for investment in vulnerable people to
strengthen their voice in
investments. By aligning relevant work with the SSF. With a limited track record, a lack of decision making.
SSF Guidelines, philanthropy can lead by investment-ready projects, and unappealing
example and strengthen impact. risk–return profiles, SSF also typically struggle to
attract traditional private capital. Contact
3. Channel flexible funds to the Anna Ducros
local level Philanthropic organisations can support SSF by [email protected]
providing risk capital, early capital or patient Annabelle Bladon
By providing flexible funding and building [email protected]
capital, which can attract new investment for
meaningful long-term partnerships, philanthropic
solutions like those described in Box 2. By 44 Southampton Buildings
organisations can help drive locally led action in London, WC2A 1AP
partnering with like-minded organisations,
SSF. Local SSF actors often lack the finance, United Kingdom
governments and community groups, philanthropic
technology and agency to make change, yet they
donors can leverage their strengths in impact Tel: +44 (0)20 3463 7399
are best placed to know what interventions will www.iied.org
measurement and storytelling to generate the
work and how. Where possible, philanthropic
data and share the metrics and methodologies IIED welcomes feedback
funding should flow to entities that engage SSF via: @IIED and
needed for other funders to measure impact. A
communities and enable local influence over www.facebook.com/theiied
mapping of the different actions that are needed
how money is used: sub-national governments,
to create systemic change in the SSF sector, and ISBN 978-1-83759-067-4
local SSF enterprises, local nongovernmental
of different players’ roles, would help to progress
organisations and community organisations.
this collaboration by building a clear picture of
As stated by the sector’s Rules of Conduct, complementarity and gaps. This briefing was produced
getting money to where it is needed is crucial for with the generous support
Annabelle Bladon and Anna Ducros of Irish Aid and Sida
fostering equal partnerships founded on trust and (Sweden).
transparency. Ensuring sufficient, flexible and Annabelle Bladon is a senior researcher in IIED’s Shaping
Sustainable Markets Group. Anna Ducros is a researcher in IIED’s
patient financing for local implementation also Shaping Sustainable Markets Group.

Notes
1
Due to its global diversity and complexity, there is no standard definition of the small-scale fisheries sector, but it is typically understood to
comprise relatively small production units (individuals, households or microenterprises) with low input and output, and low levels of technology or
capital investment. See note 2. / 2 UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Duke University and WorldFish (2023) Illuminating Hidden Harvests: The
contributions of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development. www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc4576en / 3 World Economic Forum
(2022) SDG Financing Landscape Scan: Tracking Funds to Realize Sustainable Outcomes for the Ocean. www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_
Tracking_Investment_in_and_Progress_Toward_SDG14.pdf / 4 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (2020) Sustainable
Ocean for All: Harnessing the Benefits of Sustainable Ocean Economies for Developing Countries. https://doi.org/10.1787/202afb81-en / 5
Johansen, DF and Vestvik, RA (2020) The cost of saving our ocean — estimating the funding gap of sustainable development goal 14. Marine
Policy 112, 103783. / 6 Our Shared Seas (2021) A Decade of Ocean Funding: Landscape Trends 2010–2020: Trends in Philanthropic Funding.
https://oursharedseas.com/funding/funding-foundation-funding / 7 UN FAO (2022) The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022:
Towards Blue Transformation. www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/cc0461en / 8 Blue Food Assessment (2021) Building Blue Food Futures for
People and the Planet. https://bluefood.earth/policy / 9 Viana, DF, Zamborain-Mason, J, Gaines, SD, Schmidhuber, J and Golden, CD (2023)
Nutrient supply from marine small-scale fisheries. Scientific Reports 13, 11357. / 10 UN Convention on Biological Diversity (2022) Decision
adopted by the Conference of the Parties: 15/4. Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-15/
cop-15-dec-04-en.pdf / 11 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (2019) Summary for policymakers
of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services. doi:10.5281/zenodo.3553579 / 12 Rare (2022) The Case for Protecting
and Managing the World’s Territorial Seas. https://rare.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022.06-Case-for-Territorial-Seas-Digital-
Download-6-27.pdf / 13 Pita, C and Ford, A (2023) Sustainable seafood and small-scale fisheries: improving retail procurement. IIED, London.
www.iied.org/21306iied / 14 Bladon, A, Greig, GT and Okamura, Y (2022) Connecting Social Protection and Fisheries Management for
Sustainability: A Conceptual Framework. World Bank, Washington. / 15 Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (2023) “Nothing about us without
us”: fishers draft rules of conduct for how to work with them to save the oceans. www.cffacape.org/news-blog/nothing-about-us-without-us-
fishers-draft-rules-of-conduct-for-how-to-work-with-them-to-save-the-oceans / 16 UN Food and Agriculture Organization (2015) Voluntary
Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication. www.fao.org/3/i4356en/
i4356en.pdf / 17 Holland, E, Patel, S, Roe, D and Shakya, S (2022) Money where it matters for people, nature and climate: driving change through
support for local level decision making over resources and finance. IIED, London. www.iied.org/20966iied / 18 For example, see Bloomberg
Philanthropy’s Vibrant Oceans Initiative and partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation and investing firm Encourage Capital: Encourage Capital
(2017) Investing for Sustainable Global Fisheries. https://2c5513.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Executive_
Summary_FINAL_1-11-16.pdf?time=1700031124

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