This blog was originally written in English and automatically translated using artificial intelligence

Fifteen leaders from the small-scale fisheries sector in Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and Europe gathered in Itacuruçá, Brazil, from May 30 to June 2, 2024. The event was organized by the National Commission for the Strengthening of Extractive Reserves and Traditional Coastal and Marine Extractive Peoples (CONFREM), the African Women Fishers Network (AWFishNET), the Union of Traditional Fishers of Indonesia (KNTI), and the Latin American Union of Small-Scale Fishers (ULAPA), with support from TINTA (The Invisible Thread) and Movilizatorio. The event aimed to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among leaders from small-scale fisheries organizations to build a common agenda to address the challenges of small-scale fishing and ocean protection.

The agenda was designed by a committee of organizational leaders and the  event began with presentations from participants representing each country: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Kenya, Benin, Seychelles, Gabon, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Fiji, and Spain. The purpose was to deeply understand the various small-scale fishing organizations, their governance, priorities, and current challenges. Over the course of the four day event, the gathering combined presentations, discussions, field visits, and workshops addressing critical issues such as market access, sustainable fishing practices, climate change adaptation, advocacy strategies, community-based resource management, and the role of women in the fisheries sector. Key takeaways from the exchange included the need to create cooperative workspaces, leverage digital platforms for international advocacy, and strengthen grassroots movements to enhance the sustainability and economic viability of small-scale fisheries.

Field visits also played an essential role in the gathering, inspiring new learnings among participants. These included a visit to the San Pedro market in Niteroi, sparking conversations around local marketing dynamics; the visit to the Guapimirim Environmental Protection Area with the Chico Mendes Institute (ICMBio), where participants discussed climate change impacts and mangrove conservation; and a visit to CONFREM’s boatyard, where workshops are held on cost-effective boat-building techniques. These workshops, part of CONFREM’s capacity-building program for small-scale fishers, are open to fishers from across the country.