Supporting Small-Scale Fisheries
More than 90 percent of the world’s fishers are employed in small-scale fishing.
Nearly all are in developing countries. Yet, many of these fisheries are overfished and poorly managed — putting the livelihoods of millions of people at risk and threatening the health of the marine environment.
We are working to improve small-scale fisheries through effective “co-management” that gives fishers a voice in decision making.
Small-scale fishers have the greatest stake in making their fisheries sustainable. When they have a clear role in managing their resources, they can help shape better rules and have greater incentives to abide by them.
Empowering small-scale fishers
Key strategies include:
- Training fishers and supply chains to actively engage in fishery improvement projects (FIPs) that advance co-management.
- Promoting co-management through government-led policy dialogues that enable fishers to have a voice in fisheries management at all relevant levels of decision making.
- Coordinating in-country support for co-management, including fishers, supply chain participants, civil society, and other stakeholders.
Supply chain support to co-management
This is the first time that entire supply chains, from fishers to retailers, have organized to promote the engagement of small-scale fishers in management.
We will build on our proven model of mobilizing the entire supply chain to drive change and advance co-management in target small-scale fisheries.

Fisher in El Nido, Palawan Island, the Philippines

Fisher in Nungwi, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Success Stories
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Empowering Artisanal Fishers in Peru
Formalization of small-scale fisheries helps ensure that artisanal and small-scale fishers are recognized in national fisheries policy. -
Mobilizing Small-scale Fishers in Indonesia
Local associations give small-scale blue swimming crab (BSC) fishers a greater voice and role in decision making for sustainable fisheries management. -
Once in the Shadows, Peru’s Squid Fishers Find Strength in Formalization
An effort to register an artisanal fleet becomes a source of pride for its community.
What Can I Do?
Learn more about how you can help improve small-scale fisheries and give fishers a greater voice in decision making.