Over 300 researchers, practitioners, small-scale fishers, civil society organizations, environmental organizations, and government representatives are set to gather on Oct. 22-26, 2018, to discuss transdisciplinary strategies to sustain small-scale fisheries as a global food production system.

They will meet at the third world small-scale fisheries congress in Chiang Mai, Thailand, under the theme “transdisciplinary and transformation for the future of small-scale fisheries”. The congress aims to facilitate information exchange, knowledge sharing, and discussion among participants who come from more than 50 countries for the viability and sustainability of small-scale fisheries worldwide.

The congress’s main theme is addressed by focusing on knowledge, innovation and capacity in the context of science, community, and policy. The congress will be opened by three plenary speakers to set the stage on recent developments in these area:

Svein Jentoft of the Arctic University of Norway will present on the ‘state-of-the-art’ in small-scale fisheries research.

Editrudith Stephen Lukanga, of the World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fish Workers, Tanzania, will speak about the latest activities that civil society organizations have been engaging in to support and promote sustainable small-scale fisheries.

Nicole Franz, from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy, will provide an overview and update about the voluntary guidelines for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries since its adoption in 2014.