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Small-scale fisheries (SSF) play an important role in food systems, the environment, culture, the livelihoods of millions of people and sustainable development as a whole. They frequently operate on common resources and carry out their activity in a collective, traditional and more sustainable way than other forms of fishing. Moreover, many SSF communities are organised in associations, community-based organisations or even cooperatives, which fall under the object of study of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). SSE has been gaining relevance within the political and scientific global agenda and applying it to the fishing sector could provide new insights on its viability, resilience and sustainability. However, fisheries studies do not seem to apply SSE methodologies often, nor does SSE seem to focus on fisheries. Consequently, to find out which studies analyse small-scale fisheries from a SSE perspective and what the main trends in these multidisciplinary studies are, this paper conducts a systematic literature review. Results suggest that works focused on this area of study are limited but have grown over the last decade, with great potential for development. In this sense, this review presents the state of the art of a multidisciplinary field, while the cases analysed allow us to show the SSE as an opportunity to improve SSF management and sustainability. Specifically, we conclude that SSE can provide insights into the entrepreneurial nature of fisheries, social and environmental dynamics, and regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In line with Target 14.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDGs), the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been tasked with achieving a multi-lateral agreement on eliminating harmful fisheries subsidies. Despite almost two decades of negotiations and increasing public attention, an agreement remains elusive. There are numerous roadblocks to these negotiations, but one key issue is that there is no clear metric for the potential scale and relative impact of fishery subsidies. As such, much attention has been targeted towards the provision of large sums of subsidies to industrial and distant-water fleets, and the subsidies provided by the largest subsidising countries—the top seven together provide over 65% of the global total. This large percentage justifies the focus on these countries but doing so alone and without understanding the context within which the subsidies are provided, may ignore pervasive impacts of subsidies unrelated to their scale, such as their inequitable distribution. Using recently available data and various scaling analyses we developed a series of different subsidy metrics in order to broaden our understanding of the distribution of fisheries subsidies. We show that different global regions and individual countries could be considered as 'top' subsidisers, depending on the metric used. This highlights a potential issue of focusing on the absolute amounts provided as a de facto indicator of harm alone, which can detract from efforts by developing countries to redirect their harmful subsidies towards better support for their fishers and industries. Failure to eliminate harmful fisheries subsidies has ramifications across the SDGs and across global regions, regardless of the absolute amount of subsidies that are being provided therein. • Calculating subsidy intensity considers the economic context of subsidy provision and facilitates broader debate. • Different regions and countries could be considered 'large subsidisers' when considering subsidies as a proportion of catch. • Using different subsidy intensity metrics highlights that there is more to subsidisation than the absolute size of a subsidy. • Subsidy intensity metrics highlight the need for a multilateral agreement to eliminate harmful subsidies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is in the final stages of negotiating an agreement to prohibit harmful fisheries subsidies, thereby achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.6. An effective agreement should be viewed as an opportunity for nations to proactively transition towards sustainable and equitable fisheries and pave the path for other SDGs. Supporting fishers does not require harmful subsidies, and we provide evidence-based options for reform that highlight equity needs while reducing environmental harm. Subsidy reforms need clear goals, co-design, transparency, and fair implementation. An agreement on SDG 14.6 could be a turning point for the oceans and for the well-being of those that depend on the oceans for livelihoods and nutrition. Responsible seafood production will require international cooperation not only at WTO, but among governments, fisher organizations, civil society, and the wider public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Food system transformation is urgent, requiring rigorous, science-based monitoring to guide public and private decisions and support those who hold decision-makers to account. • Monitoring the whole of food systems and the interactions between their components is essential to support the immediate course corrections required to meet global sustainable development goals. • A food systems framework is proposed to define the architecture for a comprehensive monitoring agenda covering five thematic areas and their component indicator domains. • An inclusive process is called for that would select and track indicators for analysis of food systems performance and accountability. Food systems that support healthy diets in sustainable, resilient, just, and equitable ways can engender progress in eradicating poverty and malnutrition; protecting human rights; and restoring natural resources. Food system activities have contributed to great gains for humanity but have also led to significant challenges, including hunger, poor diet quality, inequity, and threats to nature. While it is recognized that food systems are central to multiple global commitments and goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals, current trajectories are not aligned to meet these objectives. As mounting crises further stress food systems, the consequences of inaction are clear. The goal of food system transformation is to generate a future where all people have access to healthy diets, which are produced in sustainable and resilient ways that restore nature and deliver just, equitable livelihoods. A rigorous, science-based monitoring framework can support evidence-based policymaking and the work of those who hold key actors accountable in this transformation process. Monitoring can illustrate current performance, facilitate comparisons across geographies and over time, and track progress. We propose a framework centered around five thematic areas related to (1) diets, nutrition, and health; (2) environment and climate; and (3) livelihoods, poverty, and equity; (4) governance; and (5) resilience and sustainability. We hope to call attention to the need to monitor food systems globally to inform decisions and support accountability for better governance of food systems as part of the transformation process. Transformation is possible in the next decade, but rigorous evidence is needed in the countdown to the 2030 SDG global goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]