Interview with Amparo Pérez Roda: “To move forward with sustainable development, the role of women in fisheries today must be central”

In the vastness of the sea lie great opportunities to improve our food systems and people’s quality of life. We talk about this topic with Amparo Pérez Roda, FAO Fishery Officer, who immerses us in the world of fishing, its cultural value and the great potential of the sector to promote the sustainability of the planet.  

 

̶Sustainable Development Goal 14 is dedicated to the sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. How far are we from achieving this goal?  

There is still a lot left to do. This is mainly because the goal is very broad and covers several indicators. To name a few set out by FAO in its latest State of World Fisheries report, SDG indicators 14.6.1 and 14.b.1 currently reveal encouraging trends in relation to levels of policy implementation.  

With respect to the state of the ocean environment (SDG targets 14.1, 14.3 and 14.5), some indicators reveal worsening trends and accelerating pollution rates. However, there is clear progress and strong political will to enforce national legislation on the protection of marine environments.  

 

̶ Are aquatic food systems a powerful tool for solving the problems we face? 

̶ Yes, mainly because of the type of food extracted from the fishery. We are talking about superfoods, products that are very rich in nutritional value. In addition to being nutritious, small-scale artisanal fisheries and aquaculture provide healthy, safe and affordable food and products as part of global and local food systems. They also provide employment for a large part of the world’s population and entire communities depend entirely on this sector, so it has great potential to feed and nourish the world’s growing population, but growth must be sustainable. 

For FAO, addressing aquatic food systems in an appropriate manner is a powerful tool to improve food insecurity figures and achieve environmental sustainability.  

 

̶ In addition to its contribution at the economic and nutritional level, in what other ways does fishing and aquaculture contribute? 

̶ This sector is directly connected to the gastronomy and traditions of the place, and that’s what makes it valuable. If, for example, the local fishing sector disappears, part of the gastronomic tradition and the identity of the place would also be lost.  

 

̶ What is blue transformation and why is it a visionary strategy? 

̶ Blue transformation seeks to emphasise all aspects that need to be taken into account in fisheries management to achieve aquatic food systems that are affordable for everyone and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.  

In addition to considering the economic, environmental and social aspects, when we talk about fisheries management it is necessary to take into account other sectors that are not directly linked to fisheries management as it is traditionally understood, but which require a market vision and a multidisciplinary and multi-departmental coordination at all levels, both in public administration and in academia.  

 

̶ What can we do as consumers to support this transformation? 

̶ The answer is very simple: care more about what we eat. This is very easy today because everything is labelled. For fishery products in particular, there is a strict regulation to indicate the origin and method of capture. It is time for the consumer to pay more attention to these details.  

In food in general, not only in fishing, there is no such thing as cheap and cheerful. If you want to eat well and have quality food, you must pay. Today, when we see a cheap product, it is probably a product that comes from far away and, in some cases, from countries where production standards and workers’ wages are probably much lower than in Europe.  

 

̶ What is the situation of women in fishing? 

̶ There are many women involved in fishing, but they do not have the same opportunities or resources as men. They currently have the lowest, least stable and least qualified wages in the workforce, and face constraints that prevent them from fully exploring and benefiting from their roles in the sector. According to FAO, to move forward with sustainable development, the role of women in fisheries today must be central. For this reason, more and more attention is being paid to the gender component and you will see this reflected in all the reports published by FAO on this subject.  

I am currently participating in the GloLitter project, a joint initiative between the Government of Norway, the International Maritime Organization and FAO aimed at reducing marine plastic debris. We are working on the gender component and will implement a study to understand the role of women in the management of plastic waste by fisheries and at any level of the sector’s value chains.  

The first step for us is to gather more information regarding gender dynamics in this sector. Specifically, we must analyse to what extent women are involved; if they are not, find out why, and find out if they have access to credit in order to evaluate measures to help them become more involved in this issue.  

 

̶ How is climate change affecting the small-scale fisherman? 

̶ It is an issue that affects everyone because it is a question of general availability of resources. We can see the consequences of climate change in issues such as rising temperatures and ocean acidification, which then results in a decline or redistribution of species.  

However, it is true that the small-scale fisherman does not have the same resources as a large-scale fisherman. They are more exposed to environmental degradation, natural disturbances and disasters, and climate change. This is why it is so important to formulate policies and implement actions that support the creation of resilience to these hazards for the long-term continuity of these sectors.  

 

̶ At the CEMAS conference on artisanal fishing in the Mediterranean, you highlighted the importance of finding solutions for fishing gear that falls to the seabed and becomes a trap for marine biodiversity. What are the causes?  

̶ It is a problem that unfortunately occurs all over the world and the causes are very diverse. It is possible for fishing gear to end up on the seabed due to accidents due to bad weather, conflict between passive and active fishing gear operating at the same site, theft or illegal fishing. In some cases it can be retrieved and in others it cannot because it can be dangerous for the fisherman.   

The problem is that the coast guard or the competent authority is notified, but then what? Is anyone going to pick up that fishing gear? When there is a warning, is that data recorded anywhere? For these reasons, FAO is working on the issue of gear marking systems to collect reliable data on what is happening and create an appropriate strategy for more sustainable fisheries. For a long time, there has been no one to investigate this problem and it is now time to solve it.