the ssf guidelines therefore state that the identification and application of the term smallscale should be carried out at the regional subregional or national level taking into account local contexts in particular such an exercise should be carried out in a participatory fashion to ensure that all voices including those of marginalized groups are heard fao a section definitions vary between countries in the gfcm area of application smallscale fisheries are generally characterized by a large number of boats of low tonnage between and tonnes which are highly diversified and use lowimpact fishing gear to target a wide variety of species