Fishers and fish farmers and those who depend on the sector for their livelihoods are increasingly vulnerable to disasters and the impacts of climate change. Most small-scale fishers and fish workers live in developing countries and face a range of issues that increase their vulnerability to hazards including food insecurity, poverty, pollution, environmental degradation, overexploitation of resources, high levels of accidents at sea and conflicts with industrial fishing operations. Whilst responding to these disasters and emergencies has become a greater part of the work of governments, civil society organisations, agencies and communities there are as yet no guidelines for the sector. This document aims to fill that gap and to improve the effectiveness of such interventions.