A flourishing of research and policy engagement – including that by the V2V network – has led to increased understanding of the multiple causes of vulnerability in small-scale fisheries and has identified pathways to viability, including through the application of the FAO voluntary guidelines on small-scale fisheries. In this presentation, Dr. Edward H. Allison argues that both the research and policies are sufficiently well developed to support viable pathways to enable small-scale fisheries and fisherfolk to thrive,
but that there has been a systematic underinvestment in implementing the proposed reforms. He further argues that this underinvestment will persist unless five systemic failings at the research-policy-practice interface are addressed.
His talk starts with emphasising how important it is to focus on food systems more broadly, but that aquatic foods are often not paid much attention to. Traditionally, nutrionists have focused on the protein content of fish and aquatic invertebrates. But more recent work by Christina C. Hicks of Lancaster University, UK, and collaborators, as well as Shakuntala H. Thilsted of WorldFish, Malaysia, have underscored the immense importance of fish as a source of micronutrients for a balanced diet of about one third of the world population! He continues to explain the Initiative on Resilient Aquatic Food Systems by WorldFish and partners, which got going in 2021. Gender and attention to often marginalised small-scale producers is a core concern in the attempt to have research results serve them more directly.
Klick on the announcement poster to watch the video that was recorded live on 25 February 2022.
