SEAFISH for Justice led by its Regional Coordinator and Secretariat, Tambuyog Development Center, spearheaded the launch of the Southeast Asia Small-Scale Fisheries Hub (SEA SSF Hub) initially supported by USAID Sustainable Fish Asia Technical Support (SUFIA TS) held at Harmoni One Convention Center in Batam, Indonesia, Nov.18-20, 2024.
Small-scale fishers and aquaculture organizations in Southeast Asia, represented by the Indonesian Traditional Fisherfolk Union (KNTI) – Indonesia, the Shrimp Farmers Association of Lampung (P3UW Lampung – Indonesia, Katipunan ng mga Kilusang Mangingisda ng Pilipinas (KKAMPi), PANGISDA Pilipinas, the Malaysia Inshore Fishermen Association for Education and Welfare (Jaring – Malaysia), the Cambodia Fisheries Network/Representative SSF Cambodia, Vietnam Syndicate for Workers in Fisheries, Vietnam Fisheries Society together with NGO Network members of Southeast Asia Fisheries for Justice (SEAFISH) namely, Tambuyog Development Center; Center for Empowerment and Resource Development (CERD); PROCESS Bohol; KIARA Fishery Justice Coalition of Indonesia; WALHI Friends of the Earth; Telapak, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Cambodia’s Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT) and Center for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) have gathered in Batam, Indonesia, to further strengthen the small-scale fishers’ movement across Southeast Asia.
The creation of the SEA-SSF Hub is envisioned to provide a venue for small scale fishers to amplify their voices in the region. It draws inspiration from the struggles of men and women fishers across the region who defend small-scale fishers’ rights and promote best practices in sustainable fisheries management.
Declaration of the Southeast Asia Small-Scale Fisheries (SEA-SSF) Hub
We, representatives of small-scale fishers and aquaculture organizations in Southeast Asia, comprising the Indonesian Traditional Fisherfolk Union (KNTI) – Indonesia, the Shrimp Farmers Association of Lampung (P3UW Lampung – Indonesia, Katipunan ng mga Kilusang Mangingisda ng Pilipinas (KKAMPi), PANGISDA Pilipinas, the Malaysia Inshore Fishermen Association for Education and Welfare (Jaring – Malaysia), the Cambodia Fisheries Network/Representative SSF Cambodia, Vietnam Syndicate for Workers in Fisheries, Vietnam Fisheries Society together with NGO Network members of Southeast Asia Fisheries for Justice (SEAFISH) namely, Tambuyog Development Center; Center for Empowerment and Resource Development (CERD); PROCESS Bohol; KIARA Fishery Justice Coalition of Indonesia; WALHI Friends of the Earth; Telapak, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT) and Center for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) have gathered in Batam, Indonesia, to initiate the strengthening of the small-scale fishers’ movement across Southeast Asia.
Small-scale fishers in Southeast Asia play a critical role as food producers, both in capture fisheries and aquaculture, serving global food and nutrition needs. Over 22% of the world’s fish production comes from this region, involving millions of individuals, both men and women, working as fishers, aquaculture fishers, and fish processors. Southeast Asia is also home to the world’s most extensive marine biodiversity, positioning this region as essential for sustaining healthy and sustainable marine ecosystems. These conditions support the livelihoods of small-scale fishers in producing nutritious seafood and improving the welfare of fisher families.
We, the representatives of small-scale fishers and aquaculture fishers gathered here, are food producers committed to playing a more significant role in providing healthy and nutritious food for the world. Our skills and knowledge of sustainable and environmentally friendly fishing practices are deeply rooted in our traditions and the heritage of our ancestors, who practiced wise stewardship of marine resources. Today, this legacy is threatened by the commercialization and privatization of the seas, which benefit only a few groups with substantial capital under neoliberal systems.
We, therefore, recognize the need for a network of small-scale fishers’ movements in Southeast Asia dedicated to advocating for the rights of traditional fishers who are being displaced or whose livelihoods are under threat. This includes building economic self- reliance among traditional fishers, strengthening their knowledge and actions to protect marine and coastal environments, and enhancing fisher resilience to climate change impacts. We aim to uphold food sovereignty and formulate strategic steps to ensure basic rights—such as access to education, healthcare, and adequate housing for fisher families—as well as the right to land and territorial waters protection, welfare, and the empowerment of fisherwomen.
We also agree to continue our struggle against policies that marginalize small-scale fishers through: (1) the privatization and commercialization of marine and coastal resources; the degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems (including mangrove areas, seagrass beds, coral reefs, and sand); (2) the displacement of fishers from their living spaces due to infrastructure projects, such as coastal reclamation or tourism developments; (3) the suppression of small-scale fishers’ voices in expressing their aspirations and interests; and (4) economic marginalization due to lack of access to capital, facilities, infrastructure, and markets.
To achieve these goals, we recognize the importance of strong small-scale fishers’ organizations. We draw inspiration from the struggles of fishers and fisherwomen across the region who defend small-scale fishers’ rights and promote best practices in sustainable fisheries management.
Through the Southeast Asia Small-Scale Fisheries Hub, we commit to strengthening cooperation and collaboration, exchanging information and knowledge, and building solidarity in the struggle of small-scale fishers across Southeast Asia to safeguard livelihoods and enhance welfare.
The Southeast Asia Small-Scale Fishers Hub is an open network. We value and respect the unique cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity in this region. Therefore, we will inform and invite other fisher organizations to join this collective struggle to achieve sovereignty and prosperity for small-scale fishers in Southeast Asia.