Small-Scale Fisheries

RISE UP IN ACTION

Colombia · The Philippines · South Africa · Namibia

As offshore wind expands, decisions about where and how projects are developed can have significant implications for small-scale fishers and coastal communities that depend on marine spaces for their livelihoods, food security, and cultural identity.

Through Centering Coastal Communities in the Offshore Energy Transition, RISE UP is working with small-scale fisheries and community-led organizations across Colombia, the Philippines, South Africa and Namibia to better understand how offshore wind development intersects with community well-being, marine ecosystems and sustainable livelihoods.

The initiative will document community experiences, priorities, and proposals through interviews and dialogues; identify knowledge and governance gaps; and create opportunities for exchange around marine spatial planning, offshore wind and a just energy transition.

RISE UP and partners will also develop educational resources and regional and global briefings to help connect community perspectives with wider policy discussions on offshore energy and ocean-climate action.

RISE UP IN ACTION

April–May 2026 · Hua Hin, Thailand

At the TBTI World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress 2026, RISE UP brought together small-scale fisheries representatives, civil society and researchers for a workshop focused on Preferential Access Areas (PAAs) and their role in supporting more equitable and sustainable ocean governance.

PAAs are designated coastal areas that give small-scale and artisanal fishers preferential access to fishing grounds, often by limiting or excluding industrial fishing. As competition for ocean space increases, from industrial fishing, offshore energy, aquaculture, tourism and shipping, these areas can play an important role in securing access to fishing grounds, supporting livelihoods and local food systems, and reducing competition with larger-scale fleets.

RISE UP’s workshop brought together more than 40 participants to explore how PAAs can support both conservation and small-scale fisheries. Discussions connected experiences from fishing communities with wider policy debates on fisheries governance, trade, just transition and equitable access to ocean resources.
The session also created space for small-scale fisheries representatives supported by RISE UP to participate directly, share their experiences, and engage with researchers and civil society working on similar challenges across different regions.
The discussion situated PAAs within broader international commitments, including the FAO Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines, SDG 14.b, and ongoing WTO discussions on fisheries subsidies and access.

At its core, the conversation explored a broader question: how can ocean governance protect ecosystems while securing the rights, access and livelihoods of the small-scale fishers who depend on them?

RISE UP IN ACTION

May 2026 · Jakarta, Indonesia

Fisheries subsidy reform has major implications for ocean health and for the millions of people who depend on small-scale fisheries for their livelihoods. As governments advance implementation of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, the perspectives and experience of small-scale fishers are critical to shaping reforms that address overfishing while reflecting the realities of coastal communities.

In May 2026, RISE UP joined the Stop Funding Overfishing Coalition, INDEF (Institute for Development of Economics and Finance), and the International Institute for Sustainable Development to bring together 30 small-scale fishers, government representatives, researchers and civil society actors in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The workshop explored what fisheries subsidy reform means in practice for small-scale fisheries and how reforms can work for both people and the ocean. Participants discussed how harmful, capacity-enhancing subsidies could be redirected toward positive incentives, including vessel buybacks, gear exchanges and support for sustainable fishing practices.

A central message emerged from the discussions: small-scale fishers are partners in designing solutions, not simply a sector to be regulated.

The exchange supported dialogue among fishers, policymakers, researchers and civil society and created a foundation for continued engagement as WTO members move forward with fisheries subsidy reform.
Read RISE UP member Hollie Booth’s reflections on the workshop and the role of positive incentives in the WTO “Fish 2” negotiations.