Beneficial ownership transparency in OACPS fisheries: strong commitments, but slow implementation — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements A new assessment finds limited implementation of beneficial ownership transparency commitments across OACPS countries, with weak legal frameworks. However, there are clear opportunities to accelerate ...

A new assessment reviews how the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States commitment on beneficial ownership transparency is being implemented. It highlights both implementation gaps and opportunities to accelerate progress, particularly through FiTI.

Read the report👇https://t.ly/s4Dh5

To subsidise or not to subsidise, that is not the question — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements At the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, ministers reaffirmed commitment to continue negotiations on harmful fisheries subsidies. While the 2025 Fish 1 agreement marked progress, major con...

At the 14th WTO Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, African artisanal fishers insisted on how to ensure public subsidies support sustainability, equity, and food security in ocean governance.

Our latest brief👇

SFPA monies must reach the shore: What Mauritian artisanal fishers expect from the future fisheries agreement with the EU — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements Although the EU-Mauritius SFPA generates measurable macroeconomic gains, these benefits remain largely invisible to small-scale fishers. The authors highlight weak transparency, limited coastal develo...

Here's how the EU-Mauritius fisheries agreement can better support local small-scale fisheries:

- Ensure timely disbursement of sectoral support
- Increase the landings of bycatch by EU tuna vessels
- Better align development projects with local needs

Our brief👇

www.cffacape.org/publications...

Aligning ocean governance and fisheries policy: what the EU Ocean Act must deliver — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements The European Union is drafting an Ocean Act aimed at improving the coherence of its maritime policies. This initiative could better integrate small-scale fisheries, protect marine ecosystems and suppo...

The future EU legislative framework for ocean governance must:

🐟recognise fishing communities as essential to food systems
❤️‍🩹ensure healthy marine ecosystems and fishers fair access to ocean space
🔍increase transparency of all EU fishing operations in third countries

Our latest brief👇 t.ly/x2Bxi

Guinea-Bissau halts fishmeal production: a turning tide for small pelagics fisheries in the region? — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements Guinea-Bissau has prohibited the production of fishmeal and fish oil. The objective is to safeguard national food security, preserve marine ecosystems, and protect coastal livelihoods, while supportin...

🎉 On 27.01.2026, Guinea-Bissau banned the production of fishmeal and fish oil.

A measure in support of food security, ecosystems, and coastal communities.

However, the success of this measure will depend on its implementation.

Read our article👇
t.ly/c7qb6

Fiti standard 2.0: a step forward for fisheries transparency; a foundation to build on — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements The Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) has updated its standard to broaden the scope of transparency in the sector. Version 2.0 focuses on defining small-scale fisheries at the national level, p...

The Fisheries Transparency Initiative released version 2.0 of its Standard. On the menu you can find:

👁️ National definitions of small-scale fisheries

📝 Stronger disclosure requirements on beneficial ownership

📢 Recognition that accessibility to information is essential

Our article👇
t.ly/m6shl

Beyond the high seas: why the BBNJ Agreement matters for African artisanal fisheries — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements The BBNJ Agreement reshapes the governance of fisheries without imposing direct regulations: high seas MPAs could displace fishing effort into African EEZs, potentially increasing competition to acces...

#HighSeasTreaty now in force

For SSF communities, the question isn’t whether high seas Marine Protected Areas exist but how they’re designed, since such closures could push fleets into coastal waters, stressing local stocks & SSF livelihoods.

Our article👇

www.cffacape.org/news-blog/be...

EU-Mauritania SFPA: a tool to achieve sustainability? — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the EU and Mauritania is an opportunity to implement the “new generation” of agreements announced by the Commission, which should focus o...

EU-Mauritania SFPA

Starting early 2026, negotiations on future protocol should focus on:

🐟Priority access to small-scale fisheries (SSF)
🌍Regional and participatory management of small pelagics
🤝Sectoral support oriented towards SSF

Read CFFA's recommendations👇
t.ly/0bxlm

2⃣0⃣2⃣6⃣‼️

A new year has started and we're back with many ideas 💡 on how to continue supporting small-scale fisheries’ advocacy 🛶🐟

Yet, we cannot do that without looking back and celebrating 🥳

Here's our summary 👉 tinyurl.com/ymky4uwy

@ssfnicole.bsky.social @martacavalle.bsky.social

WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: Progress with many open questions — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements Francisco Mari, advocacy officer for global food security, agricultural trade and maritime policy at Bread for the World , reviews the WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies; following its recent entry...

The @wto.org agreement on #FisheriesSubsidies entered into force🚢🐟

Yet questions remain - we address them in our latest policy brief

🔍What is still unaddressed
⚖️Costs and opportunities for developing countries
🛶Impacts on small-scale fisheries

Read it now👉 t.ly/Kibng

Regionalising biological rest periods in West Africa: ecological gain or social shock? — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements When harmonising regional closed seasons in SRFC and FCWC regions, CFFA calls for considering social and environmental perspectives and ensuring the participation of affected communities.

The @ec.europa.eu is about to launch the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) with regional partners ECOWAS, SRFC and FCWC 🌊🐟

As regional fisheries management gains momentum, we look at the ecological gains and social impacts of harmonising biological rest👇
shorturl.at/fKhsv

Strengthening Inshore Exclusive Zones with small-scale fishers: A path to food security and biodiversity — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements Small-scale fishing communities depend on the coast and inshore waters for their livelihoods. Many African countries now recognise small-scale fisheries’ role in achieving climate and biodiversity goa...

🌍Inshore exclusion zones: African countries recognise the role small-scale fishers play in food security and biodiversity conservation 🍽️🐟

Here’s how the @ec.europa.eu can support priority access & co-management in coastal waters for artisanal fishers 👇

@ssfnicole.bsky.social @caneurope.org

Behind a deadly shipwreck in Mauritania, some dubious European interests — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements In mid-September, a factory ship flying the Gambian flag and owned by a Maltese company collided with and sank a trawler flying the Mauritanian flag and owned by a Spanish company. Five Mauritanian se...

Deadly shipwreck in Mauritania, dubious European interests 🤔

In September, a Spanish-origin trawler flying a Mauritanian flag, sank after a collision with a factory ship owned by a Maltese company with a Gambian flag 🛳️

What of EU's responsibility?

Read our article 👉 cffacape.org/publications...

Kweekvis in Nederlandse supermarkten bedreigt voedsel­zekerheid in Afrika In de strijd tegen overbevissing op zee lijkt de snelle groei van de kweekvissector goed nieuws. Maar in de Nederlandse supermarktschappen ligt kweekvis die met Senegalese sardines gevoerd is. Dat dra...

’The root cause of the problems is the rapidly growing popularity of farmed fish among wealthy consumers in Europe.’ says Beatrice Gorez from @cffacape.bsky.social

www.ftm.nl/artikelen/kw...

Dormant but not dead: Why The Gambia - EU fisheries agreement still matters — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements Dormant SFPAs should not simply be considered as a pause. Since the framework agreements are still in place, they should be utilised for dialogue on science and sustainable fisheries between the two p...

Dormant but not dead 😴

@ec.europa.eu lists the EU-Gambia fishing agreement as "dormant"

We argue that fishing agreements should still be used for continued:
🤝Dialogue on sustainable fisheries
🔬Joint Research
👮‍♀️Regional control & surveillance
💵Coordinate donor support

+ info: tinyurl.com/3p6mrvpn

From fishing access deals to supporting fishing communities: a new course for EU fisheries funding in Africa? — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements CFFA urges the EU to align its 2028–2034 budget with its commitments to sustainable development and ocean governance. Support for African small-scale fisheries must be anchored in transparency and bas...

🚨The EU's future budget (2028-34) is underway:

What are the priorities for financing the EU's external fisheries policy?

💰Allocate 100% of SFPA contributions to sectoral support
🙋Support participatory management of small pelagic species

Read CFFA's recommendations👉 t.ly/a0M48

Putting fishing communities first: Priorities for negotiating a fair EU-Seychelles Fisheries Agreement — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements In this article, CFFA highlights the Indian Ocean archipelago’s small-scale sector’s concerns and demands in light of the ongoing negotiations for the new EU-Sechelles Sustainable Fisheries Partnershi...

📢The EU-Seychelles negotiations for the next fishing protocol start TODAY

Small-scale fishers' demands:
🚢Priority access for semi-industrial
💵A FAD "polluter-pays" policy
♀️Gender-disaggregated data
🤝A say in sectoral funds use
👴Backpay for the pension fund

Our policy brief: tinyurl.com/4vnx7v4f

In the Seychelles, fishers invest in women and school-aged children to revamp their sector — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements The Indian Ocean archipelago’s ageing population of small-scale fishers strives to bring generational renewal to fisheries by sensitizing school kids on the profession and training young women to re-s...

Seychellois small-scale fishers are seeking to revive their sector by investing in women and youth.

We tell you their stories on how they developed a course on fishing business for women and how they sensitize school-age kids about their profession👇

t.ly/Rx7xe

Towards a fair and sustainable EU strategy for fisheries external action — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements In this position paper, CFFA contributes to the Commission open consultation on an EU strategy for fisheries external action. In it, CFFA calls for a strategy that looks into policy coherence for deve...

For its new external fisheries strategy, the EU must ensure policy coherence and prioritize food security, stakeholder participation, and human rights.

📢 Read CFFA’s recommendations. t.ly/cOf3v

@ec.europa.eu

Joint statement: “FAO and its members must address the destructive impacts of industrial feedlot aquaculture” — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements At the occasion of the 20th session of the FAO subcommittee on trade, more than 16 CSOs and small-scale fisheries organisations, the signatories ask that FAO and its members adopt “blue food systems” ...

Subcommittee on Fish Trade: 16 CSOs warn of the impacts of industrial aquaculture: pollution, coastal land grabbing, threats to small-scale fisheries and local communities. Read the statement👇

t.ly/JLxaG

@animallaweurope.bsky.social @seasatrisk.bsky.social @animalpolicyint.bsky.social

The crisis is deepening for Liberia artisanal fishers: the EU must listen and act — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements Encouraging the reform and enlargement of the Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) in Liberia would reinforce the EU leadership on responsible fisheries governance and build on recent regional trends, such as...

Liberian fishers' struggle to protect their Inshore Exclusive Zone from competition continues... 💪🚢🛶

In a letter to their government they oppose a new fisheries management plan which would allow trawlers in their reserved area

More info 👉 cffacape.org/publications...

@ec.europa.eu @giz.de

FiTI: a decade down, a sea of possibilities ahead — Coalition for Fair Fisheries Arrangements Ten years on, the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) has empowered African small-scale fishers by promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusive policymaking. It strengthens visibility, s...

Ten years after its launch, the Fisheries Transparency Initiative shows that transparency, stronger governance, greater recognition of small-scale fisheries, and improved dialogue among stakeholders are a powerful driver of change.

Read our article here👉 t.ly/mEyul

@fiti-global.bsky.social

Did you know women ♀️ are present at every stage of the fisheries 🐟 value chain in Africa?

Find out how the EU can support them at the event we co-organise with MEPs @melissacamara.bsky.social Fourreau, Sargiacomo & Do Nascimento Cabral

Register TODAY!👉 t.ly/GhxAc pic.x.com/Jsw3ZSxzSi

23/ Francisco Marí @brotfuerdiewelt.bsky.social recalls the EU coherence obligation under the Lisbon Treaty:

“EU food and trade policies are not coherent with development goals. Many deals signed by the EU with African countries it has had severe impacts on their local economies”.

22/ Gaoussou Gueye calls the @ec.europa.eu DG MARE to support priority access for SSF to small pelagics, key for food security:

“Salmon is fed large quantities of fishmeal from West Africa! It’s not possible that a European consumer indirectly eats in half an hour our yearly recommended intake”

21/ Gaoussou Gueye, president of Afrifish-net, the Pan-African platform of non-state actors in fisheries, calls for an area reserved for small-scale fisheries:
“We play an extremely important role in feeding our countries, especially the poorest populations”

20/ Juan Manuel Trujillo @etf-europe.bsky.social insists: “Those member states whose fleets benefit from fisheries agreements (SFPAs) should especially ratify these conventions and at the same time the EU should improve the budget for improving working conditions and security under SFPAs”

19/ Rosalie Tukker, from Europêche reminds the audience that only 8 EU member states have ratified the ILO convention of work in fisheries (C188): “It is important for generational change: we should create conditions for young people to stay and also to enter the fishing sector”

18/ Martin Orth @ec.europa.eu employment and social affairs reminds that fishing is one of the most hazardous jobs in the world and presents measures the EU implements to improve working conditions, including for non-EU citizens on board EU fishing vessels: "We strengthened provisions under SFPAs"

17/ Session 4 of EU Long-Distance Advisory Council (LDAC) seminar on external dimension of the EU Common Fisheries Policy talks about how the EU can reinforce food security, local livelihoods and sustainable practices in the fishing value chain, chaired by @judaudu.bsky.social
@ejfoundation.org