Exploring SDG 14.b and its proposed indicator 14.b.1

On 25 September 2015, the 193 member states of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 targets and 230 indicators. SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development is one of these goals. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the custodian agency for four of the ten SDG 14 indicators, including SDG 14.b.1 - Progress by countries in the degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small-scale fisheries. In this context, the workshop, Exploring SDG 14.b and its Proposed Indicator 14.b.1, helped raise awareness of SDG 14.b and the proposed indicator 14.b.1. The workshop explored the indicator methodology and related issues on data and information sources, analysis and reporting including the use of the e-learning platform specifically created for this proposed indicator and identified capacity development needs in relation to reporting on SDG 14.b. The workshop brought together 17 external participants representing governments, regional organizations and small-scale fisheries civil society organizations (CSO), as well as FAO staff. The workshop used several different types of sessions to reach the expected results, which were to create awareness of SDG 14.b and its indicator 14.b.1, explore the methodology for reporting on the indicator and to identify related capacity development needs. In addition to FAO presentations introducing key concepts, there were three country presentations (Tonga, Côte d’Ivoire and Bangladesh), two regional organization presentations (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and Central American Fisheries and Aquaculture Organization) and one joint presentation by smallscale fisheries CSOs (World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fish Workers, World Forum of Fisher Peoples and International Collective in Support of Fishworkers). In smaller groups, the participants explored the FAO SDG 14b e-learning course and discussed key concepts and issues that are important for achieving SDG 14.b.