Fishing families from many countries met in Rome from 4 to 6 September. The United Nations food agency, FAO, held its third summit about small-scale fishing. Nearly half a billion people depend on this work for food and income. Small boats catch at least 40 percent of the world's fish.
FAO leader QU Dongyu asked governments to protect these fishing communities. He said small-scale fishing gives healthy food to many families. It also keeps local traditions alive. However, fishers face problems like pollution, strong storms, and changing weather. Ministers from Brazil, Indonesia, Cabo Verde, and Madagascar joined the talks. They discussed plans to make this work safer and fairer.