Representatives of small and traditional fish workers from 32 countries of the world met in New Delhi, India from 17th to 21st November 1997. The objective was to protect fisheries and small-scale fishermen from depredation by large trawlers and mechanised fishing boats and to oppose destructive commercial shrimp farming. It also aimed at promoting sustainable fisheries policy practices and social justice at the international level. The historic gathering was led by Father Thomas Kochari and Harekrishna Debnath – two undisputed leaders of small-scale fish workers. The World Forum of Fisher People was established on November 21, the last day of the five-day conference. The day of establishment of the World Forum of Small-Scale Fishermen was declared by the conference delegates as World Fisher Peoples’ Day.
As declared, every year on this day we the small-scale fishers, fish farmers, fish vendors and other ancillary fish workers thank nature for providing livelihoods to the people dependent on natural resources and renew our vow to protect our livelihood and natural resources by celebrating World Fisheries Day around the world. Commemorate with love and respect the efforts and bravery of our forefathers to protect water, fish and fisher people. The United Nations and various countries have also recognized 21st November as World Fisheries Day.
About 600 million people around the world work in the fisheries sector for their livelihood, of which about 50 percent are women. Small-scale fisheries provide about 90 percent of the total employment in fisheries. About 820 million people survive on fisheries.
According to the latest data of the world Food & Agriculture Organization, 17.8 million tons of fish have been produced in the world in 2020. And fish meets about 20 percent of the animal protein needs of 3.2 billion people.
But the enormous importance of fisheries in food security, nutritional quality, economic development and poverty alleviation is being overshadowed by severe threats, especially to small-scale fisheries.
The condition of small-scale fisheries is rapidly deteriorating day by day due to the lustful overenthusiasm of large-scale fishers and entrepreneurs to increase their profits.
Miscreants with administrative indulgence are adding to the disaster. Large mechanized fishing boats in the sea continue to deplete fish resources. Intensive aquaculture farms are destroying natural water bodies and fish resources resulting in displacement of small-scale fishers and fish farmers from their livelihoods. Fishing with mosquito nets, poisoning, explosives and electric shocks — are devastating fish resources in rivers and wetlands. Malls and electronic businesses are increasingly replacing small fish vendors. Increasing encroachments and pollution of water bodies in the name of development is putting the final nail in the coffin of small-scale fisheries.
The government and administration due to their nexus with big investors, entrepreneurs and local miscreants are presiding over the massive destruction of fisheries natural resources entailing dire degradation of fish workers’ livelihood.
Small-scale fisheries are the only way to provide sustainable fisheries in our world. Small and traditional fishers are the largest primary non-consumptive stakeholders and natural custodians of our water bodies. Good fish needs good water.
Today, when corporate greed has engineered a severe climate crisis by reckless exploitation of fossil fuels coupled with widespread destruction of earth’s forest cover, when global warming is wreaking havoc to world’s ecosystems, the importance of small-scale fisheries is more than ever before.
In this context, we the small-scale fish workers of India are observing World Fisheries
Day on 21st November 2023.
We demand –
• Immediate ban on all destructive fishing gears and methods like trawling, purse seining and fishing by mosquito nets, poisons, explosives, electricity etc.
• Stop pollution of, encroachments on and excessive diversion of water from water bodies.
• Issue collective patta (user title) to small scale fishers in recognition of their right to sustainable fishing and fish farming in all public water bodies including the seas, rivers, reservoirs, lakes and wetlands.
• Make the corporates and countries responsible for global warming pay for its damages – we need climate justice now.