Small-scale producers are at the sharp end of supply chains. They can - and do - face significant challenges in achieving and maintain a decent standard of living. ISEAL has been engaging with stakeholders about equity and livelihoods in sustainable supply chains. We have opened up conversations on improved incomes for producers within supply chains and unpacked the approaches that work to address the inequities that underpin persistent poverty.

Building on this, we are now looking to support the seafood sector in exploring income and livelihood strategies of small-scale fishers and fishing communities and considering opportunities for collaboration around equity and livelihoods.

This paper provides a rationale for targeted action to improve small-scale producer livelihoods and equity. It offers insights and strategies to support stakeholder engagement and discussions to help drive transformational change on livelihoods and equity in the seafood sector. It outlines the importance of small-scale producers, their livelihoods and equity issues, and why the seafood sector is being focused on. Using a multi-dimensional approach developed by the Living Income Community of Practice this paper discusses how transformational change on livelihoods and equity can be achieved.

This paper should be read alongside the complementary paper on Advancing livelihoods of small-scale producers: 3 sector examples of income improvement strategies.