Legal Reflections on the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines: Building a Global Safety Net for Small-Scale Fisheries

Abstract The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication, endorsed by Committee on Agriculture Organization United Nations 2014, heightened recognition protection small-scale fisheries globally. guidelines are voluntary non-binding, but does this mean they have no normative significance or legal force? Based international theories soft law, article explores status argues that force three main reasons: (i) legitimate process development adoption guidelines; (ii) content provisions; (iii) their law-making effects at various levels governance. contribute to building a global safety net fisheries, which should continue improve expand thus securing sector’s sustainability worldwide.