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Over the past few months we have been working on a piece of
policy research for the Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods
Programme (SFLP); coordinated by FAO and funded by DFID. It
focuses on the use of information and communication technology
(ICT) for pro-poor development in the small-scale fisheries
sector.
The
policy brief will be published by SFLP/FAO shortly and will
be available at www.sflp.org.
A longer working paper on ‘Uses of Information
and Communication Technology in Fishing Communities and Fisheries
Management” will also be made available on
the same website.
The
research uncovered extensive ICT usage across the globe by
organisations and communities involved in fisheries, including
participatory development communications activities (in particular
radio); fish-finding, navigation and monitoring equipment;
mobile phones and associated applications; and web-based information
and networking resources. Most of this activity is not donor
led or identified as 'ICT for development' (ICT4D) but consists
of innovative and effective organisations making creative
use of a complete range of new and old tools.
There is evidence of a positive impact. However
it is also clear that a lot of the growth in ICTs - notably
mobiles - is market led and so the poorest and most marginalised
are, as ever, often left behind. A central recommendation
is that development partners involved in fisheries need to
be more strategic about information, communications and technologies.
This should start with an audit of their current programmes.
The paper argues that there is an urgent need to focus on
ensuring that:
• The exploitation and spread of the new technologies
in fisheries is oriented explicitly towards meeting the needs
of the poor
• The use of new technologies in fisheries is integrated
into participative, people-centred communications for development
and knowledge sharing approaches.
One
of the results of the research process has been the creation
of a database with information on around 50 relevant projects
worldwide covering uses of ICT in the following areas
relevant to fishing:
• Fishing and trading activities (fishing operations,
markets)
• People and communities (vulnerability reduction, increasing
safety; and equity and social inclusion)
• Social mobilisation (empowering fishing communities
in owning and communicating information, campaigning and advocacy,
and telecentres)
• Resource management and conservation (including monitoring,
control and surveillance and co-management of fisheries resources).
We are looking for ways to make the database and the
information it contains more widely available so that it can
be updated and added to on an ongoing basis.
Please
get in touch if you would like more information about the
research and the case study database.
Contact
Details
Pete Cranston
and Tori Holmes
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