Abstract
This article examines the prevailing blue economy narrative in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing its inherent inequities. It focuses on the perspectives of artisanal fisher leaders from 16 countries who participated in a regional workshop organized by the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers in Brazil in the context of the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture, Fisherfolks’ perspectives align well with recent calls for ‘Blue Justice’, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of health, food security and sovereignty, culture, identity, and environmental protection. It also underscores the significance of gender equity and youth involvement in small-scale artisanal fisheries, solidarity among fishers, and adherence to the FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). Latin American and Caribbean fisher leaders argue for a model of development that recognizes and mitigates inherent inequities, promotes inclusivity, safeguards rights, and empowers communities to exercise sovereignty over their local ecosystems.
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Brazilian People's Tribunal of the Ocean Economy (2022)-http://www.cppnacional.org.br/opiniao/tribunal-popular-da-economia-do-mar-mar%C3%A9-organizativa-dos-movimentos-populares-da-pesca; and the International Tribunal on the Impact of Blue Economy in Indian Ocean countries - http://blueeconomytribunal.org/.
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Acknowledgements
This work was funded by the ERC Consolidator project TRADITION, which has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, Grant Agreement No 817911. This work was also funded by EarlyFoods (Evolution and impact of early food production systems), 2021 SGR 00527. This work contributes to the ICTA-UAB ‘María de Maeztu’ Programme for Units of Excellence of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CEX2019-000940-M). The authors thank all associated members of the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) for their leadership, and the Latin America and Caribbean workshop participants for their committed efforts in advancing a human rights-based approach to small-scale fisheries development in the region.
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Gerhardinger, L.C., Mills, E., Mesquita, B. et al. Challenging the Blue Economy: Voices from Artisanal Fishing Communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Development 66, 95–104 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41301-023-00366-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41301-023-00366-3