'Illuminating Hidden Harvests news update

Welcome to the first news update for the Illuminating Hidden Harvests (IHH) study. In this issue, we cover the progress of research activities, the latest news and upcoming events.

The IHH core team—consisting of representatives from FAO, Duke University and WorldFish—met at the FAO office in Rome on 29–31 January 2019. Discussion focused on the processes for data management and analysis, thematic studies, report structure, communication strategy, country case studies, design paper and roadmap. Representatives from World Bank and the Oak Foundation also attended and participated in key discussions.

An ad-hoc questionnaire on small-scale fisheries data was sent out to FAO member countries in December 2018, and we expect to get results back by April 2019.

To date, over 45 country case studies have been or are in the process of being contracted. All authors receive a case study handbook that outlines a standardized approach for data collection, and a 2-hour online training session on implementing the approach. An e-learning course on the case study handbook material is being developed for future use. This work is informed by pilot country case studies in Mexico and Liberia. Case study results are expected in mid-2019.

The IHH core team will meet in July 2019 with members of the technical advisory group to look at the case study data and discuss analytical methods.

WorldFish led a multi-stakeholder consultation process to develop a communication strategy. The strategy sets out a diverse set of communication activities and products around target audiences and key messages designed to build awareness on the role and contributions of small scale fisheries through promotion of IHH study results and insights at global and national levels.

Maria del Mar Mancha-Cisneros and Xavier Basurto of Duke University are leading a team effort to write two peer-reviewed articles in 2019 on implementing the IHH research agenda. The articles will focus on: (1) the methodological process to increase the likelihood of systematically understanding the nutrition, economic and environmental contributions and impacts of SSF globally, and (2) how the methodology can be implemented.

Benjamin Siegelman has taken over the role of IHH project coordinator for six months, temporarily replacing Giulia Gorelli in this role.

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Blogposts and news

Little fish feed a big planet: Research is critical to understanding how small-scale fisheries can contribute to and thrive in the blue economy, writes WorldFish Director General Gareth Johnstone in an op-ed for the Economist's World Ocean Initiative.

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Global study on small-scale fisheries to provide vital knowledge, recognizes UN food report: The IHH study has been recognized in the UN Right to Food report as key global research into small-scale fisheries.

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‘Good science’: Using sex-disaggregated data in small-scale fisheries research and policy: IHH gender lead Danika Kleiber speaks on the need to count all people involved in fisheries to make informed decisions.

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Ocean action newsletter: The IHH study is profiled on page nine of the newsletter, in recognition of its vital role in raising awareness of the contributions of small-scale fisheries globally.

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The IHH study has been registered as a voluntary commitment as part of the UN Oceans conference. We encourage you to share your SSF work also, by registering your own voluntary commitment online.

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Upcoming and past events

The IHH team will be hosting a panel session at the MARE People & the Sea Conference on 24–28 June 2019 in the Netherlands. Come say hello!

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Xavier Basurto will represent IHH at the IASC conference ‘In Defense of the Commons: Challenges, Innovation and Action’ on 1–5 July in Lima, Peru.

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The core team have presented IHH at various events in the last few months, including:

Towards an Inclusive Blue Economy
3rd meeting in the Global Action Network on Sustainable Food from the Oceans and Inland Waters for Food Security and Nutrition
FAO fisheries seminar series for staff.

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Recent publication

Program brief

Illuminating hidden harvests: The contribution of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development
By WorldFish, FAO, Duke University (2018)

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About Illuminating Hidden Harvests: The global contribution of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development
A global study of the contributions, impacts and drivers of small-scale fisheries to inform policy processes and empower fishing communities with key information. To know more, visit the IHH webpage or read the IHH brochure in English, French or Spanish.

FAO

Duke University

FISH

WorldFish

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Visit us at www.worldfishcenter.org/hidden-harvests
Contact us at IHH-Small-Scale-Fisheries@fao.org