Report of the FAO Workshop on Governance of Tenure for Responsible Capture Fisheries. Rome, 4 -6 July 2011

The Workshop on Governance of Tenure for Responsible Capture Fisheries was convened by the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department in collaboration with the Land Tenure Unit of the Natural Resources and Environment Department to generate inputs and guidance on the contents and process of developing fisheries sector specific implementation guidelines on the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security. The workshop reviewed the experiences of tenure arrangements in different regions, fisheries and socio-economic settings around the world and listened to the voices of fishers on their perspectives of tenure in fisheries. These voices and case study findings together with other experiences and demands by fishworkers’ organizations informed the principles and good practices identified by the workshop participants on governance of tenure for responsible capture fisheries. There was a consensus that secure tenure arrangements for the use and management of fisheries and other resources lead to more desirable outcomes in terms of resource use and sustainability. Tenure governance goals should be orientated towards improving food security and/or livelihoods, contributing towards well-being. Tenure arrangements that align use and management provide good incentives for sustainable use. Tenure arrangements can and should accommodate diversity. A specific focus should be given to equity issues, e.g. who holds fishing rights, which are crucial to community well-being, food security and poverty alleviation, and how tenure impacts on social, economic and human rights.