Katheti and the Rauch Foundation at COFI36
The 36th session of the UN FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI36) held in Rome was a significant learning opportunity for the Rauch Foundation and Katheti. The team engaged deeply with issues surrounding pelagic fish usage in industrial aquaculture and its adverse effects on nutrition and livelihoods in vulnerable communities.
COFI36 provided a platform for global representatives and civil society organizations to discuss diverse topics, including illegal fisheries, plastics pollution, food security, and sustainable aquaculture. The Katheti and Rauch was there with observer status as part of delegation representing the Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements (CFFA), a group advocating for African artisanal fishing communities. CFFA also participated in the Small-Scale Fishers Summit, which highlighted the challenges faced by indigenous and artisanal fishers worldwide.
Throughout the event, a recurring theme was the “Blue Transformation”, UN’s initiative to realize the potential of the oceans in supporting global food security. In the main hall, delegates discussed their countries’ contributions to this initiative while expressing concerns over climate change and illegal fishing. Meanwhile, NGOs and observers like the Rauch and Katheti team found their voices in the background, advocating for small-scale fishers (SSFs) and highlighting their struggle.
The International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC), representing over 300 million small-scale food producers, and CAOPA, representing 26 African artisanal fishing groups, emphasized the need for enforceable public policies to protect SSFs. Despite the 2014 endorsement of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries, implementation remains a challenge. SSFs lamented the lack of dedicated agenda items for their sector at COFI36, marking a decade of unmet promises.
Meetings with SSF representatives underscored the dire situation. Industrial aquaculture projects, often promoted under the guise of addressing world hunger, have led to ocean grabbing, displacement of local fishers, and environmental degradation. The team’s engagements at COFI36 highlighted the urgent need for a responsible approach to aquaculture that supports small-scale fishers and ensures sustainable practices. The experience at the session was an eye-opener, reinforcing the importance of grassroots advocacy and international cooperation in shaping fair and sustainable fisheries policies.
You can become a volunteer at Katheti. Fill out the volunteer application and start this wonderful journey with us!
As a local teacher or student, you get the benefit of free membership at Katheti!
