Today, Seychelles has officially launched its first ever report to the Fisheries Transparency Initiative, making it the first country in the world to submit such a report. This is a major milestone for the country’s efforts to ensure that fisheries are environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially equitable – not only…
Gothenburg/Sweden. The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM) recently announced the start of a study that seeks to analyse market and non-market based benefits to incentivise governments to proactively publish information on marine fisheries management. According to Ms. Ylva Mattsson, Senior Analyst of Fisheries Management at SwAM and…
Corruption is a critical problem for many sectors. However, corruption in fisheries is given surprisingly limited attention in international debates on fisheries reforms. Fisheries can be portrayed as a highly lucrative and competitive sector, that is increasingly regulated, relies on third-party agents, has complex global value chains that span multiple authorities, countries…
The FiTI Standard defines for the first time what information on fisheries should be published online by public authorities! It comprises 12 transparency requirements, such as laws, permits, fishing access agreements, stock assessments, financial contributions, catch data, and subsidies. The FiTI Standard is the outcome of extensive discussions, spanning nearly…
Under the project 'Support for increasing transparency and multi-stakeholder collaboration in fisheries management among four Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Africa', financed by IrishAid, the FiTI seeks to engage reputable non-governmental organisations in Mauritius and São Tomé and Príncipe. Fisheries are critical for the development and well-being of SIDS,…
A joint country mission between the FiTI International Secretariat and its regional partner organisation ‘Regional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation’ (PRCM) was conducted to Guinea-Bissau in January 2021 to explore with national stakeholders the possibility of the country increasing transparency in fisheries management by joining the FiTI. During this…
To achieve sustainable fisheries, the availability and quality of information is critical. In this new video, we highlight the importance of transparency for sustainable fisheries management and emphasize what stakeholders gain from engaging their country in the FiTI. Marine fisheries have become a critical resource fulfilling the economic, food security,…
The ‘Transparency of Fisheries in Seychelles’ Kick-off Forum took place on 30 September 2020 at the Eden Bleu Hotel, Seychelles, supporting the country's current endeavours to compile its first FiTI Report. This was the first of two forums organised by the Department of the Blue Economy and the FiTI International…
11 November 2020. Irish Aid approved today a grant to the FiTI for increasing transparency and multi-stakeholder collaboration in fisheries management among four Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Africa: Cabo Verde, Comoros, Mauritius, and Sao Tomé and Principe. Sven Biermann, Executive Director of the FiTI International Secretariat stated that…
Subsidies have become one of the most controversial subjects in debates on fisheries reforms. Perhaps more than any other single factor, subsidies are seen as the source of a range of problems, such as overfishing, illegal fishing and unfair benefit-sharing. In 2001 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed…