National Plan of Action for implementation of the voluntary guidelines for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries in the context of food security and poverty eradication (NPOA-SSF) in Uganda.

This National Plan of Action for Sustainable Small- Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF) provides modalities for increasing visibility and empowering Small-Scale Fishers and Fish Workers (SSFFW) to work with other stakeholders to secure small-scale fisheries to achieve human rights, food security, and poverty eradication through the implementation of SSF-Guidelines. The strategic objectives of the NPOA-SSF are: (I) recognizing human rights and responsibilities, (II) organizing governance systems, (III) managing the fish habitat health, (IV) applying lake productivity potential, (V) sustaining and increasing fish production and utilizations, (VI) promoting socio-economic development, (VII) providing enabling support services, and (VIII) supporting implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and sustainability.
This NPOA-SSF respects human rights principles, including but not limited to: gender equality; equity and equality; consultation and participation; and economic, social environmental and resource sustainability. Governance systems will be organized through organization of tenure, promoting cultural norms, establishing co-management, and promoting associations. This NPOA-SSF lays down strategies to promote socio-economic development, such as poverty reduction, improving socio-economic services, promoting gender balance, and integrating blue economy investments. The management of fish habitat health will be strengthened with an emphasis on the impacts of land use change and pollutants and contaminants, and controlling invasive weeds. Lake productivity potential will be increased by applying knowledge of physical, chemical and biological conditions and food-webs; promoting culture-based fisheries; promoting diversification to aquaculture; addressing the impacts of climate variability and change; and conserving aquatic biodiversity. In order to sustain and increase fish production in individual lakes, with a particular attention on the major commercial species in these lakes, this NPOA-SSF stresses on combating illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, reducing post-harvest losses, value addition and utilization, and improving market systems. Support services will be provided to small-scale fishers and fish workers in order to raise their knowledge, awareness and skills. This NPOA-SSF establishes implementation mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of this plan.