iFish6

The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines), developed by FAO in collaboration with small-scale fisheries organizations from around the world and adopted in 2014, are the first global policy instrument dedicated entirely to the small-scale fisheries sector. Key elements focus on social development, employment and decent work (Guideline #6) and on responding to disaster risks and climate change (Guideline #9). With 2024 marking the 10-year anniversary of the SSF Guidelines and presenting an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned, progress and contributions to positive changes, this session explores the supportive role of Social Protection in connection with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) for resilient, sustainable small-scale fisheries and associated livelihoods in the context of climate change. Globally, more than 60 million people are employed in small-scale fisheries (SSF), representing 90% of people engaged in capture fisheries overall, while a further 53 million people are estimated to be active in subsistence fishing (FAO, Duke and WorldFish, 2023). The sector makes significant and essential contributions to livelihoods, nutrition and food security, yet small-scale fishers at all points along fish value chains remain highly vulnerable to a broad range of interwoven social, economic and environmental shocks and stressors. Fishing, especially SSF, has long been recognized as one of the most dangerous occupations, with very high injury and fatality rates. The International Labour Organization (ILO) (1999), and FAO (2009) estimated 24,000 and 32,000 deaths per year, respectively; recent research finds significantly higher figures (more than 100 000 deaths per year), with many concentrated in small-scale fisheries, and associated with high rates of social, economic and environmental marginalization and vulnerability (Willis et al 2023). Despite recognition as a fundamental labour right (ILO, 2022), attention to Occupational Safety and Health, particularly in the context of SSF and climate change, has been limited so far. Greater attention to the sector, through policy and programmes to improve OSH and provide supportive measures, is clearly and urgently needed. In particular, there is a need for a more focused lens examining relationships between socioeconomic, occupational, and environmental hazards, risks and vulnerabilities that underlie many OSH issues (e.g. inequality, poverty and informality that prevent compliance with safety standards, increasing frequency and severity of covariate shocks associated with climate change, disproportionate impacts on marginalized groups, impacts of overfishing, etc.) and to identify entry-points and pathways to building resilience that can address these elements in a more integrated way. Social Protection acts to address key drivers of OSH issues, with the goals of reducing social and economic risk and vulnerability and alleviating extreme poverty and deprivation (FAO, 2017). Social Protection programmes are designed to protect, promote and transform the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, including social assistance (cash and cash+ initiatives), social security (contributory programmes to protect people from shocks), and labour market interventions (aimed at economic inclusion and improved working conditions). Policy support at the global level for OSH is increasing (SSF Guidelines, ILO Social Protection Floors, ILO Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, etc.), and many worthwhile examples of OSH initiatives and supportive social protection in small-scale fisheries exist. Documenting experiences and sharing lessons learned is important to building the evidence base that will support further improvements and the continuing spread of implementation uptake for both OSH and social protection. Presentations will include the following from panelists:

1. Occupational safety and health in integrated approaches to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. Birgitte Krogh-Poulsen, Monterey Bay Aquarium
2. The global framework to advance Occupational Safety and Health and Decent Work in Small-scale Fisheries. Elvis Betulayev, International Labour Organization (ILO)
3. How does the GFCM prioritize and address occupational health and safety concerns within the fisheries sector. Anna Carlson, General Fisheries Commission of the Mediterranean (GFCM)
4. Occupational Safety and Health and social protection issues for the small scale fishers. Fabrizio de Pascale, UILA Pesca
5. How the preventive, protective and transformative roles of social protection can complement and support Occupational Safety and Health for more resilient SSF, (including results of global assessment of social protection for fishers.  Daniella Salazar Herrera, FAO
6. Occupational Safety and Health facing young fishers and children in the sector. Eleonora D’Andrea, FAO
7. Accessible and inclusive Occupational Safety and Health technology to improve recognition and equitable treatment for fisherwomen: Lessons from Brazilian clam fisheries. Rita Franco, Post-graduate program in health, environment and work. Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Brazil.
8. The transformative role of fisher organizations on advancing Occupational Safety and Health policy and practices for small-scale fisheries. Kirill Buketov, International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Association (IUF)
9. Relation to methods of exposing and combating the culture of excessive hours of work and assessing exploited industrial fisher for possible identification as victims of forced labour and human trafficking. Michael O’Brien, International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)