By EDF, the secretariat for SSF Hub partners
Small-scale fisheries are worth talking about now more than ever. Millions of people around the world depend on small-scale fisheries for their health, livelihoods and culture. There are many resources, tools and people working to support sustainable small-scale fisheries, or SSF, but it can be hard to find these tools or to make connections between the people working toward this goal. That’s why a new digital tool — called the Small-Scale Fisheries Resource and Collaboration Hub, or SSF Hub — is being created.
We are excited to announce that a beta version of the SSF Hub has just been released. It’s an online space that will allow people to share resources and experiences across a wide array of fisheries and management challenges to support small-scale fisheries and the communities that depend on them. And based on feedback provided by SSF groups during the prototype testing phase, interactive and accessibility features have now been improved. EDF and partners are seeking input over the upcoming weeks from people involved in small-scale fisheries so we can help improve this important resource for everyone.
The SSF Hub is a new multilingual and interactive resource for small-scale fishers, fish workers and community leaders. The Hub provides freely available, easy-to-access tools to strengthen SSF governance and community development. Within this collaborative space, users of the Hub are committed to securing resilient and thriving small-scale fisheries and communities, achieved through the implementation of the FAO SSF Guidelines. This effort is in support of the SSF-Global Strategic Framework.
The Hub is currently a beta version — an early version of the site that provides an opportunity for people to interact with various features and provide essential insights and feedback to strengthen this resource for all future users. Based on the feedback that is received, we will continue to develop a full version of the SSF Hub to be released to the public in January 2021.
The purpose of the SSF Hub is to create one space where Hub users can learn and share stories and information and exchange ideas and questions with the people and organizations working in SSF. It is meant to be a growing community: providing access to the many experiences, initiatives and tools to support sustainable small-scale fisheries that may not otherwise reach the places and people where they could be useful.
The SSF Hub is being co-created through a participatory and consultative process with partners that work in SSF including fisher organizations, conservation groups and expert advisers.
As part of the development of the SSF Hub, over 60 people have provided comments, suggestions and impressions on the Hub prototype. This feedback has gone into improving the beta version of the Hub, showcasing how important this community response is.
Specifically, prototype testers and Hub partners expressed interest in finding ways to generate a greater sense of community within the small-scale fisheries world. Through individual user profiles, inclusive language and content and a rotation of featured community stories and highlights, the Hub seeks to create this stronger sense of community — and ensure that a variety of geographic regions, fishery types and people are being represented.
We hope to inspire and empower SSF actors around the globe. Yet the SSF Hub is only as strong as its community — we need your input now and your ongoing participation to make it the powerful tool that will strengthen the well-being of SSF communities. You can view the beta version of the SSF Hub, and sign up for our upcoming webinars on Monday October 26, 2020 or Thursday October 29, 2020.
Please email ssfhub.org@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more about this initiative and providing feedback. You may also provide feedback using this google form.