Global Small Scale Fisheries FAO report is out: Illuminating Hidden Harvests

The Illuminating Hidden Harvest (IHH) is a global study led by FAO, WorldFish and Duke University with the objective of improving knowledge about small-scale fisheries to inform policy and practice.

On March, 20 of 2023, the final report on Illuminating Hidden Harvests: the contributions of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development was released. This multidisciplinary study was conducted along 58 countries and territory case studies by small-scale fisheries experts engaging local actors, government officials and consultants. This study compiles for the first time data and  information that quantifies the crucial role of small-scale fisheries globally for food security and nutrition, sustainable livelihoods, poverty eradication and healthy ecosystems. Therefore, it emphasises that artisanal fisheries are key to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This initiative has contributed to highlight the real contribution of small-scale fisheries, not only as an economic sector, but also as a livelihood and cultural support system that remained undervalued.  From Future Oceans Lab, Elena Ojea and Diego Salgueiro, together with Gonzalo Macho and Guillermo Martín contributed to the Spain case study, and to chapter 6 on the gender dimension of small-scale fisheries to illustrate the gender gap in fisheries data. Furthermore, our former PhD student Alba Aguión is now a core member of the IHH team and has been part of the report launching team.

The report allows to inform all levels of policy-making processes and contributes to empowering fishing communities, making them stronger to get productive, sustainable and equitable small-scale fisheries. We are very satisfied with our contribution from Spain, coordinating a group of national experts and providing primary data, including gender disaggregated statistics that has allowed to illuminate this important human-ocean interaction.

Find the full IHH report here.