Small-Scale Fisheries in France: Activities and Governance Issues

This chapter reviews the major themes and issues related to small-scale fisheries in France. It first examines the definition of small-scale fisheries within the French legal framework and its relation to EU regulations. Some statistics describing the main trends of the small-scale fisheries fleet, gears and target species are presented. The participation of small-scale fishers in fisheries management and their role within fishers’ representative organisations are reviewed. It appears that, despite their numerical importance, as compared to larger-scale fleets, and their vital socio-economic influence within coastal communities, the decision-making power of small-scale fisheries in terms of resource management is limited. Indeed, most management decisions are taken within organisations that encompass all fishing vessels, which have long been dominated by larger-scale fleets. Nevertheless, small-scale fisheries have gradually gained more visibility within these fisheries’ organisations and greater participation in the decision-making process regarding resource management, which is illustrated through some practical examples. Finally, the future of French small-scale fisheries is discussed with regard to the challenges and opportunities for their emancipation and the sustainability of their activities