FiTI Secretariat conducts 1st Feasibility Study in the Seychelles
In order to develop the FiTI Standard – and in particular the scope of the FiTI Reporting, two technical working groups, one dedicated to small-scale fisheries and the other to large-scale fisheries, were established. Both groups – composed of experts from the International Advisory Group – have been developing recommendations on the scope of the FiTI Reporting, taking into account the differences and specificities of both the small-scale and large-scale sectors.
In order to support this work, it was agreed during the 3rd meeting of the International Advisory Group of the FiTI (4 February 2016, Nouakchott/Mauritania) to undertake practical feasibility studies in two of the FiTI pilot countries to provide an insight into the practicalities of country reporting. Both studies required a country visit of the FiTI International Secretariat in order to conduct on-site interviews with key government and non-government stakeholders, including representatives from the fishing industry and civil society.
The first feasibility study of the FiTI was conducted on April 7th – 11th 2016 in the Seychelles.
The objective of such study was to enable the FiTI International Secretariat to better understand:
- the availability of information in the fisheries sector of a particular country (including data on large-scale as well as small-scale fisheries);
- any objections and difficulties that may exist to making this information public; and
- the options to gather data and to what extent this information can be verified through a multi-stakeholder process.
The goal of this feasibility study was also to determine how this information could be captured in final FiTI country reports.
During the interviews, the research team discussed other aspects of the FiTI with national stakeholders, including the potential value of transparency in the fisheries sector, existing platforms for multi-stakeholder dialogue on fisheries management, as well as other data that stakeholders may identify as important for FiTI country reports.
The results of the Seychelles study were compiled into a draft report which was first shared with national stakeholders for review. The final study is now available for download here. The study does not represent a final FiTI country report, yet it will be used as an example of how FiTI reporting may work when the FiTI Standard is finalized.
The 2nd feasibility study took place in Mauritania on 23-27 May 2016. The study report will also be soon available.
