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TBTI - Working Group 4

Enhancing the stewardship

 

Too Big to Ignore 
Concerns about the oceans, and especially fisheries, have motivated people to work together in order to address the global “fisheries crisis.” Small-scale fisheries (SSF), and the uncertainties about how they affect or are affected by changes in ecological and social system dynamics, are among the key issues that require immediate attention. 

Too Big to Ignore (TBTI) is a global research network and knowledge mobilization partnership on SSF. The main goal of TBTI is to enhance the understanding of the real contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security, nutrition, sustaining livelihoods, poverty alleviation, wealth generation and trade, as well as the impacts and implications of global change processes such as urbanization, globalization, migration, climate change, aquaculture, and communication technology on small-scale fisheries. TBTI is also concerned with the lack of understanding about both the impacts of SSF on ecosystems and the contribution of SSF to stewardship and conservation.

Enhancing the stewardship 
TBTI is organized around regions and thematic research conducted by working groups (WG). One of the key themes that TBTI aims to address is “Enhancing the stewardship”. This is the focus of WG4 that is led by CERMES (patrick.mcconney@gmail.com). 

WG4 has three main components, each associated with a guiding question:

WG4 - "Enhancing the stewardship
Slide 2 - Ecological impacts
Slide 3 - Monitoring Systems
Stewardship


Who is involved 
TBTI has globally engaged numerous individuals and organisations with an interest in SSF. The web site (http://toobigtoignore.net/) explains the structure, their roles and how interested parties can keep in touch with TBTI through social media and other means. Check it out!

WG4 activities and events are likewise engaging a broad cross-section of SSF stakeholders. These are involved either as individuals or through affiliations with several private sector, non-governmental, governmental and inter-governmental organisations including: 
  • The University of the West Indies
  • Asociación Red Costarricense para el Ambiente y la Educación
  • Carleton University
  • NOAA – National Marine Fisheries Service
  • University of Aberdeen
  • Universiti Utara Malaysia
  • CBNRM Learning Institute
  • Federal University of Paraná
  • Comunidad y Biodiversidad
  • Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations
  • Masifundise Development Trust
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute
  • FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
  • Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism
  • Caribbean Natural Resources Institute


Getting involved in TBTI WG4 is easy! Just email patrick.mcconney@gmail.com to share your question, interest or suggestion. You can become part of the TBTI and WG4 network. 

What is going on

WG4 has a dynamic work plan that is always evolving and adapting to address its three core components. WG4 activities and events are mainly implemented through collaboration. The scope of WG4 is global, but the initial focus is mainly on Latin America and the Caribbean.

  • Graduate student research on WG4 core components
  • Faculty and NGO research on WG4 core components
  • Producing communications on the WG4 components
  • Promoting the concept of SSF social-ecological systems
  • Examining fisherfolk perspectives on ecological change
  • Getting fisherfolk perspectives on enhancing stewardship
  • Encouraging participatory monitoring and evaluation
  • Participating in capacity building workshops and meetings
  • Networking practitioners in SSF stewardship through WG4
  • Strengthening and networking fisherfolk organisations
  • Enhancing the policy influence of fisherfolk organisations
  • Organising interactions between fisherfolk and scientists
 
Related to WG4