Enhancing the participation of small-scale fishing sector in decision-making: Good practices from Atlantic in EU

Abstract The aim of this research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the degree of participation and influence of Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) across the European Union Atlantic Area putting forward a set of good practices and recommendations for policymakers, Non-Governmental Organisations and SSF representatives. The actual margin for enhancing the degree of influence of SSF on decision-making processes is still large. Moving towards community-based management models from the current hierarchical models is compulsory. A set of measures have been adopted in Western Waters following participatory processes, introducing self-management and co-management tools at the local and regional levels. This research goes beyond the governance model addressing issues such as the increase of influence when the final decision-makers promote a certain devolution of power to the local/regional levels carried out in parallel with reinforcing the capacity of the SSF representatives to exercise such power.