International Collective in Support of Fish workers (ICSF)

International Collective in Support of Fish workers (ICSF) was launched 1986, with a mission to support fishing communities and fish worker organisations, and empower them to participate in fisheries from a perspective of decent work, equity, gender-justice, self-reliance and sustainability. ICSF is a membership based organisation, and a global network including community organisers, teachers, technicians, researchers and scientists, with three quarters of its members from Asia, Africa and Latin America. The organisation has its main office in Chennai, India, and a small liaison office in Brussels, Belgium.

The work of ICSF falls into four priority areas:
. Rights to resources: Livelihood rights and sustainable access to fisheries and other coastal resources.
. Trade: Monitor international and regional trade issues in fisheries.
. Labour: Promote safe working conditions.
. Aquaculture: Monitor development in aquaculture.


During the period May 2007 -March 2009 SwedBio supports two project components under the priority area Rights to resources:
- Marine Protected Areas
- Coastal and fisheries resource management

The work under "Coastal and fisheries resource management" intends to highlight small scale fishers and fish workers rights to traditional coastal land and management of resources.

The objectives of the component are:
•  Review experiences of traditional and modern rights-based approaches to fisheries management and discuss their relevance and scope in the Asian context.

•  Contribute to improving the overall effectiveness of fisheries management by promoting responsible small-scale fisheries and the rights of small-scale fishing communities.

•  Advocate for policies that recognize the rights of fishing communities to coastal lands customarily used by them.

Some of the activities include organising a regional workshop in Cambodia on this issue, with the participation of fish worker organizations, NGOs and policy makers, and to organise sessions on this issue at other ICSF workshops during the period 2007- 2011. Also, an exchange programme between small-scale fish workers from South Africa and Chile will be organised, to enable a sharing of experiences and strategies.

The work under the "Marine Protected Areas" component is intended to put light on the increasing number of protected areas at sea and the effect on poor and the importance to integrate local knowledge and participation in management of designated areas

The objectives of the component are:
•  Gain a better understanding of the contribution of marine protected areas to coastal and fisheries resources conservation, and to livelihoods of coastal communities.

•  Seek recognition for community initiatives related to conservation and management of coastal and fisheries resources.

•  Develop the capacity in fishing communities and fish worker organisations to engage with the conservation debate, and to propose appropriate measures for conservation and management of fisheries and coastal resources, that protect their rights to life and livelihood.

One of the activities include organising regional workshops, in Asia, Africa and Latin America, on issues of marine protected areas, based on the information collected and studies undertaken, with participation of small-scale fish worker organisations.

Selected documents from the two components:

Proceedings from the workshop in Cambodia, 3rd - 8th of May 2007:
The Siem Reap Meet Proceedings: Asserting Rights, Defining Responsibilities: Perspectives from Small-scale Fishing Communities on Coastal and Fisheries Management in Asia.