Task 3.1. The Action 3 will promote the exchange of experiences (both successful and non-successful) across case studies in south-western waters: (i) to set up and/or further strength of organization ensuring appropriate representation of SSFS, and (ii) to improve or facilitate the involvement of the SSFS in decision taken process. With this aim, the project will analyze the set of driving forces – including the management model itself together with other external factors –which influence the fishermen´s behavior across the selected case studies. This task will be completed by organizing focus groups with stakeholders. A comparative methodology, based on qualitative data collected through focus groups, is then suggested to be developed. Lists of existing management models applied in south-westerns waters will be analyzed against a typology of co-management between government and stakeholders and by considering all the external socio-economic driving forces (e.g. biological status of the stocks, competition, price levels, etc.).
Deliverable 3.1. A Good Practices guideline will be provided for more comprehensive involvement of the SSFS in the advisory and decision-making process. It is the project’s aim to find and propose specific actions for future SSFs management under a workable co-management system, which contribute to the broader consolidation and involvement of the bodies and organizations representing SSFS.
Task 3.2. Gap analysis. Having identified a set of good practices a gap analysis will be conducted to identify gaps in the institutional, legal apparatus and SSFS organizations that may impede consecution of the objective of moving towards a broader involvement of SSFS in decision process, and setting up and/or further strengthening of SSFS bodies and organizations. Measures to bridge those gaps will be discussed.
To a lesser extent, the eventual creation of a Small Scale AC (beyond the geographical scope of the south-western waters) will be discussed in order to gather evidence from stakeholders. This information constitutes an important element of analysis that could be employed as input further studies and projects with a wider geographical scope (EU level). Similarly, discussions about the role of SSFS in the future new AC about markets will be also promote.
Deliverable 3.2. Report on gaps in the institutional and legal apparatus for a broader involvement of SSFS in decision process.