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Challenges and Opportunities in Implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines in the Family Islands, Bahamas

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The Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines

Part of the book series: MARE Publication Series ((MARE,volume 14))

Abstract

This chapter discusses the challenges and opportunities for the Bahamas to implement the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines), developed through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Specifically, this chapter focuses on the implementation potential and challenges of the SSF Guidelines that relate to sustainable resource management and the need and opportunity to integrate fishers’ knowledge. The Bahamas has a long fishing history based in small-scale fisheries. The Family Islands of the Bahamas are sparsely populated, largely undeveloped and fairly remote. Here, local populations rely on fishing as a primary source of food and income. The challenges for implementing the SSF Guidelines are particularly difficult in these islands. In addition, the Bahamian Government is implementing a wide network of marine protected areas (MPAs) to replenish fisheries and provide food security and sustainable livelihoods. Recognizing the importance of small-scale fishers and their knowledge contribution through the implementation of the SSF Guidelines in the Family Islands of the Bahamas is particularly timely as the Bahamas expands their MPA network. To assist with implementation in the Bahamas, there is a need to focus on the needs of small-scale fishers, to collect fisheries and livelihood data within rural communities and to develop a national database on the extent, scale, and dependence of small-scale fishing in the Family Islands of the Bahamas.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada

    Kate Kincaid

  2. Cape Eleuthera Institute, Eleuthera, Bahamas

    Kate Kincaid

Authors
  1. Kate Kincaid
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Correspondence to Kate Kincaid .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway

    Svein Jentoft

  2. Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

    Ratana Chuenpagdee

  3. Development and Knowledge Sociology Working Group, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research – ZMT, Bremen, Germany

    María José Barragán-Paladines

  4. Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome, Italy

    Nicole Franz

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Kincaid, K. (2017). Challenges and Opportunities in Implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines in the Family Islands, Bahamas. In: Jentoft, S., Chuenpagdee, R., Barragán-Paladines, M., Franz, N. (eds) The Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines. MARE Publication Series, vol 14. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55074-9_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55074-9_28

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-55073-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-55074-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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