Governance

Galapagos debt-swap: “These deals are being used to privatize the management of strategic areas without the consent of those who inhabit these territories”

Galapagos debt-swap: “These deals are being used to privatize the management of strategic areas without the consent of those who inhabit these territories”

Eva Martinez, an Ecuadorian lawyer expert in human rights and gender and working at the Centro de Derechos Económicos y Sociales (CDES), discusses with Andre Standing the complaint against the Galapagos debt-swap the CDES filed along with other civil society organisations. The complaint raised concerns about the lack of transparency, participation and effective accountability mechanisms as well as the loss of sovereignty of Ecuador to manage its natural resources.

UNOC: “Focusing on an imaginary funding gap for ocean conservation is a distraction from addressing the root causes”

UNOC: “Focusing on an imaginary funding gap for ocean conservation is a distraction from addressing the root causes”

In this short publication, prepared by Andre Standing, we contest the facts gathered in the preparatory note to the UN Ocean Conference panel focusing on unlocking finance for conservation of the oceans. We look at the false narrative of the funding gap and underscore the key criticisms facing these innovative finance tools, including debt-for-ocean swaps.

Will the UN Ocean conference uphold small scale fishers as “ocean rights-holders”?

Will the UN Ocean conference uphold small scale fishers as “ocean rights-holders”?

In this article, the author looks at the 0 draft political declaration of this high-level summit on Sustainable Development Goal 14 “life below water” in the light of the demands of SSF organisations participating at the conference. For this, she underscores the failure of UNOC to bring a human-rights approach to ocean conservation, echoing criticisms brought forward by UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights and Civil Society Organisations.  

Mind your vessels: Flag states and their obligations to regulate the activities of their fishing vessels

Mind your vessels:  Flag states and their obligations to regulate the activities of their  fishing vessels

Taking the example of the Mauritius law and looking at the general principles in international law, Pieter van Welzen looks specifically at the obligations of coastal states and their obligations to regulate their own vessels who fish in the waters of another state or in the high seas. The author also looks at cooperation between states in the monitoring of foreign vessels and finally, at how the EU can support developing coastal states in fulfilling their obligations.

Swap baby, swap – US environmental organisations to convert $100 billion of debt to save nature, but to what end?

Swap baby, swap – US environmental organisations to convert $100 billion of debt to save nature, but to what end?

Hand in hand with financial giants, environmental NGOs wield increasing influence over natural resource management in debtor nations, undermining their sovereignty. The author warns against the rising financialization of conservation and calls for safeguarding the rights of local populations from the expanding influence of US financial interests.

Small-scale fishers should be at the centre of the European Oceans Pact

Small-scale fishers should be at the centre of the European Oceans Pact

The EU should guarantee rights-based and equitable decision-making processes about ocean uses, ensuring the protection of the most vulnerable facing more powerful blue economy industries. Taking into account the role of artisanal fisheries in food security and poverty eradication in developing countries, the EU should also support SSF and sustainable fisheries management in its ocean partnership with African countries.

Liberian fishers are essential for food security: Investing in them must be the cornerstone of any EU-Liberia relation

Liberian fishers are essential for food security: Investing in them must be the cornerstone of any EU-Liberia relation

SSF are threatened by competition from foreign industrial fleets, declining fisheries resources, and management measures that undermine its sustainable development. While EU-funded projects aim to address these issues by promoting sustainable fisheries governance, structural challenges, including inadequate enforcement of the Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ), remain.

EU-Mauritania SFPA – Joint Committee ahead: small pelagic fish goes under the spotlight

EU-Mauritania SFPA – Joint Committee ahead: small pelagic fish goes under the spotlight

The Joint Committee of the EU-Mauritania SFPA will meet in Nouakchott from 4 to 6 December 2024. In this article, the author makes a number of recommendations in the light of the conclusions of the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF). In its latest report, CECAF described the catastrophic situation of shared stocks of small pelagics and recommended a substantial and immediate reduction in fishing effort of 60% for flat and round sardinella.

A CFP external dimension fit for the future: more focus on good governance, less on paying access rights for EU fleets

A CFP external dimension fit for the future: more focus on good governance, less on paying access rights for EU fleets

The author makes 4 recommendations to make the external dimension of the CFP more effective: (1) the EU should shift from access agreements to fisheries governance agreements, while (2) continuing to support informed participation of stakeholders in third countries; (3) it should also ensure that all vessels of EU origin, including those reflagged, abide by sustainability standards; and (4) it should actively engage, at international level, to promote transparent, fair, and sustainable access arrangements applicable to all fleets of foreign origin fishing in developing countries.

How private finance through blue bonds affects local communities: the Seychelles experience

How private finance through blue bonds affects local communities: the Seychelles experience

Andre Standing, senior consultant at CFFA, discusses with researcher Arınç Onat Kılıç, who has recently published a paper exploring the Seychelles Blue Bond, its impact on local fishing communities and the broader implications of private finance for developing the blue economy.

Yellow card Senegal: the fight against IUU fishing must also be waged in the coastal zone

Yellow card Senegal: the fight against IUU fishing must also be waged in the coastal zone

At a time when the fisheries agreement is being renegotiated, Senegal is initiating a formal dialogue with the EU on the fight against IUU fishing. As part of this dialogue, the European Union has a responsibility to improve controls on vessels of European origin, and to impose heavy penalties when they fail to comply with the rules.

São Tomé and Príncipe to develop offshore artisanal fisheries. Will the EU’s SFPA help?

São Tomé and Príncipe to develop offshore artisanal fisheries. Will the EU’s SFPA help?

In this article, the author delves into the impacts of climate change and other challenges for São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) small-scale fishing communities. To develop the sector, the government is looking to develop offshore artisanal fishing. The author examines the factors that need to be considered for the upcoming renewal of the protocol of the EU-STP Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA).

Fishing at a discount? Rethinking the design of fisheries access fees in Africa

Fishing at a discount? Rethinking the design of fisheries access fees in Africa

The author discusses the design of access fees for foreign fishing vessels in African countries and explains why these fees are low in most African nations. He also debates conditions under which industrial fishing vessels of foreign origin should be given access, or not, to African coastal countries waters, and argues for a re-think of access fees design.

Will fishers be sidelined, once again, at the UN Ocean Conference?

Will fishers be sidelined, once again, at the UN Ocean Conference?

In a joint contribution to an open call for civil society organisations, CFFA and CAOPA raise the alarm about the challenges for small-scale fishers to take part in decision-making processes of international ocean governance and ask for a human-rights-based approach.

States have an obligation to act against beneficial owners of vessels involved in IUU fishing

States have an obligation to act against beneficial owners of vessels involved in IUU fishing

In this article, Pieter van Welzen argues that states have an obligation to act against their nationals who are beneficial owners and are involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated IUU fishing activities. For this, the author talks about the challenges for flag and coastal states to fight against IUU fishing in many cases, introduces indications in international law for beneficial owner state responsibility and summarizes key state practice.

The best way EU Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements contribute to food security is by protecting and promoting artisanal fisheries

The best way EU Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements contribute to food security is by protecting and promoting artisanal fisheries

In this article, the author reviews a recent report published by Poseidon and funded by German govenrment which looks at how to increase the benefits of EU SFPAs in African countries, with a particular emphasis on small-scale fisheries, gender equity and food security.

Removing obstacles to co-management of West African artisanal fisheries

Removing obstacles to co-management of West African artisanal fisheries

West Africa has pioneered several decades of artisanal fisheries management reform. Yet there are still major obstacles to co-management: a lack of political will reflected in low budgetary allocations; inadequate and poorly targeted support for fisher organizations; poorly defined roles and responsibilities of fishers in co-management; lack of enforcement of inshore exclusive zones; and inadequate defense of human rights and particularly the important role of women.

West Africa: The EU should promote human consumption over the production of fishmeal and fish oil

West Africa: The EU should promote human consumption over the production of fishmeal and fish oil

JOINT LETTER: 11 African artisanal fisheries organisations and development NGOs send a letter to Commissioners Virginius Sinkevicius and Jutta Urpilainen asking them to use the crucial voice of the EU through Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements and the EU-Africa partnership to address the impending food crisis in the West African region linked to the fishmeal and fishoil production.

Illegal operations of Italian vessels in West Africa: when will the Commission get its head out of the sand?

Illegal operations of Italian vessels in West Africa: when will the Commission get its head out of the sand?

After repeated illegal operations by vessels of Italian origin in Africa, the author reviews the European legal framework and recommends that the European Commission be stricter with Member States when they fail to control and sanction their vessels operating in third-country waters. The Commission should also provide a better framework for reflagging.

The role of artisanal fishing “exclusive” zones in preferential access to resources

The role of artisanal fishing “exclusive” zones in preferential access to resources

This article analyses a series of studies jointly commissioned by CAOPA and CFFA on areas reserved to artisanal fisheries in several African countries. The author sheds light on common challenges for protecting small-scale fishers access and the pressing need for better developing co-management in coastal fisheries, and looks into how can the EU support protection of small-scale fishers’ access to resources.