[Reader-list] WFFP calls for regulations and legal framework to secure their lives

[T Peter]

*Fishermen flag livelihood concerns*

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
<http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/fishermen-flag-livelihood-concerns/article20947451.ece>

UPDATED: NOVEMBER 27, 2017 04:49
IST*http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/fishermen-flag-livelihood-concerns/article20947451.ece
<http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/fishermen-flag-livelihood-concerns/article20947451.ece>*

*WFFP calls for regulations and legal framework to secure their lives*

Raising the pitch against the appropriation of ocean and coastal resources
by State and non State actors, the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP)
held in New Delhi from November 15 to 21 has called for strong regulations
and legal frameworks that value fishers’ lives and secure their livelihoods.

A declaration adopted by the seventh general assembly of the WFFP said
fishers were finding themselves in conflict with industries, big
infrastructure projects and capital-intensive fisheries, aquaculture and
agriculture, all of which were worsening climate change and polluting the
environment. Highlighting the displacement of fishing communities due to
climate change factors like sea level rise, floods, storms, increasing
water temperature and loss of aquaic biodiversity, it called for effective
strategies to cope with these worsening threats.

Pointing out that mitigation solutions like marine protected areas and blue
carbon initiatives were accommodating rather than challenging the drivers
of climate change and environmental destruction, the declaration said
top-down conservation was limiting access to natural resources for fisher
people.

It outlined the commonalities between the issues faced by fishers, peasants
and indigenous communities as food producers dependent on natural resources
for their lives and livelihoods and called for a stronger alliance between
the communities at the local, national and international level.

Delegates representing various organisations across the world participated
in the WFFP, a press note issued by the National Fishworkers Forum said.