Background

CFFA is a platform of NGOs based in Brussels. CFFA documents the development and environmental impacts of EU-ACP* fisheries relations on small-scale fishing communities.

* (European Union - African, Caribbean and Pacific states).

CFFA was formed in 1992 following the “Battle for Fish Conference” and is working for fundamental change in EU Fisheries Policies, with the aim of supporting a multi-functional fisheries model that works for everyone involved, both inside Europe and outside European boundaries.

NGOs active in the CFFA network include:

ICSF (International Collective in Support of Fishworkers)
Greenpeace Spain
CCFD (Catholic Committee against Hunger and for Development)
Entraide et Fraternité
Broederlijk Delen
Pêche et Développement
Itsas Geroa
Eco-Desarollo Gaia.

CFFA also works on specific campaigns with other networks such as Eurostep.

The CFFA Secretariat is run by a Coordinator and draws on the human and financial support of participating organizations from EU and ACP countries.

Objectives

• improve food security and living standards for citizens in ACP countries through a fair distribution of gains made from fisheries.
  
  
• increase the involvement of coastal communities in the decision-making processes affecting them, as part of fisheries relations with the European Union;



• promote a model for sustainable development in fisheries;



• mobilize a European NGO network to act as a vehicle for demands made by ACP coastal communities to European Institutions.



• ensure the conservation of global fish stocks for future generations.

Role

• Supplying detailed information on issues surrounding future fisheries relations between the EU and ACP countries: general information as well as more targeted information for our partners’ specific cases.



• Advising on ways in which our partners (NGO’s in Europe and in ACP countries, professional ACP fisheries organizations) can influence negotiations on these fisheries relations with the EU.



• Documenting developments in ACP-EU fisheries relations and their impact on coastal communities (food security, living and working conditions, impact on fish resources and the costal environment).
  
• Creating awareness amongst partners (ACP and EU professional organizations, NGO ACP and EU) with the aim of dealing with these issues and providing opportunities for the organization of meetings to debate these subjects and to plan joint strategies and action.
  


• Creating a climate of dialogue with ACP and European institutions (decision-makers as well as scientists) so as to open the way to consultation between institutions, artisanal fisheries organizations and support NGOs.

What we expect to achieve:

• Better informed professional organizations and NGOs in respect of fisheries issues and better understanding on how to ensure that their points of view be taken into account by decision makers (on a national level and as part of negotiations with the EU). This also includes ongoing assistance for partner organizations during campaigns, negotiations etc.



• Coordination of an active network of NGOs and of professional organisations involved in ACP artisanal fisheries for sharing information and setting up joint North-South activities.



• Through the subjects chosen (social and environmental) and documented by CAPE, the task of progressively creating awareness amongst ACP and European institutions about the importance of “multi-functional” small-scale fisheries as part of the sustainable development of ACP and European countries.