http://www.zeenews.com/news696526.html
New Delhi: India and Sri Lanka have called for better relations among their fishing
communities, and agreed that there should be no use of force in the
sea dividing the two countries.
The decisions were taken at a two-day meeting of the India-Sri Lanka
Joint Working Group on Fisheries that ended here on Tuesday. The last
meeting was held in Colombo in 2006.
"To ensure the safety and security of fishermen, both sides agreed
that the use of force cannot be justified under any circumstances," an
official statement said.
At the same time, Sri Lanka underlined the need for Indian fishermen
to respect the international maritime boundary, whose breach they say
has led to clashes -- and deaths -- on the sea.
Sri Lanka said it was investigating the death of two Indian fishermen
from Tamil Nadu in the sea in January.
Both countries called for arrangements that would "further strengthen
the safety, security and livelihood of the fishermen".
They "agreed on the need to foster greater understanding between their
respective fishermen and fishermen associations".
A group of fishermen from Tamil Nadu visited Sri Lanka this month. A
Sri Lankan delegation is to pay a return visit to India.
The two countries also discussed measures to expedite the release from
jail of bonafide fishermen detained on charges of violating the
maritime border.
The rapid expansion of fisheries in the northern coast of Sri Lanka,
following the end of the Tamil Tigers two years ago, has led to
increased clashes between fishermen from both countries.
Fishermen in Sri Lanka accuse their Indian counterparts of intruding
into Sri Lankan waters with trawlers to catch sea food.
IANS
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Fish Poaching to be Resolved Soon
by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE
A meeting to resolve the problem of Indian fishermen entering Sri Lankan waters will be held with Indian fisheries ministry officials soon, an official of the Ministry of Fisheries said.
He said there had been several rounds of discussions to resolve the issue amicably but upto now no consensus has been reached on the problem.
Several Indian fishermen were nabbed recently for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. As a result relations between the two countries have been unsavoury.
Around 136 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were taken into custody for crossing the Palk Strait. Sri Lankan fishermen alleged that Indian fishermen use trawlers that are detrimental to the sea bed and corals.Convenor, National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, Herman Kumara said Indian fishermen had requested for more time to give up the use of trawlers in tuna fishing.
“Bottomed trawling is harmful to marine life. The impact on corals and the sea bed from bottom trawling is enormous”, he said.
“Sri Lankan fishermen are not ready to accept the terms of Indian fishermen and have appealed to them not to stray into Sri Lankan waters”, the convenor said.The arrest of Indian fishermen sparked tension in the Southern States of India which claimed that at least two fishermen were shot dead by the Sri Lankan Navy. The Navy denied the allegations. Sea poaching has been common among fishermen of both countries and tension has been eased with the release of the fishermen. The shift from traditional fishing to capital intensive fishing has aggravated the problem. In the 1960’s as a part of a Indian -Norwegian project that focused on capital intensive fishing, the Indian government provided subsidies to encourage fishermen to use trawlers.
The shift from traditional fishing to capital intensive fishing resulted in over exploitation of marine resources for exports. Trawlers use heavy bottomed nets which are dragged through the sea beds trapping marine life including fish eggs. “The catch is higher than the use of traditional boats and fishing gear but the adverse impact on the marine environment is great” Kumara said. The destruction to marine life was visible within a few years after the introduction of trawlers in South India. According to reports up to the 1970’s there had been an increase in fish landings and then a steady decline in prawn landings and fluctuations in fish catches. Sri Lankan fishermen are free today to carry out their occupation after several years of restrictions placed by the conflict. “Indian fishermen trespassing in our sea territory deprives us the opportunity of good fish catches” fisheries societies said.
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A meeting to resolve the problem of Indian fishermen entering Sri Lankan waters will be held with Indian fisheries ministry officials soon, an official of the Ministry of Fisheries said.
He said there had been several rounds of discussions to resolve the issue amicably but upto now no consensus has been reached on the problem.
Several Indian fishermen were nabbed recently for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. As a result relations between the two countries have been unsavoury.
Around 136 fishermen from Tamil Nadu were taken into custody for crossing the Palk Strait. Sri Lankan fishermen alleged that Indian fishermen use trawlers that are detrimental to the sea bed and corals.Convenor, National Fisheries Solidarity Movement, Herman Kumara said Indian fishermen had requested for more time to give up the use of trawlers in tuna fishing.
“Bottomed trawling is harmful to marine life. The impact on corals and the sea bed from bottom trawling is enormous”, he said.
“Sri Lankan fishermen are not ready to accept the terms of Indian fishermen and have appealed to them not to stray into Sri Lankan waters”, the convenor said.The arrest of Indian fishermen sparked tension in the Southern States of India which claimed that at least two fishermen were shot dead by the Sri Lankan Navy. The Navy denied the allegations. Sea poaching has been common among fishermen of both countries and tension has been eased with the release of the fishermen. The shift from traditional fishing to capital intensive fishing has aggravated the problem. In the 1960’s as a part of a Indian -Norwegian project that focused on capital intensive fishing, the Indian government provided subsidies to encourage fishermen to use trawlers.
The shift from traditional fishing to capital intensive fishing resulted in over exploitation of marine resources for exports. Trawlers use heavy bottomed nets which are dragged through the sea beds trapping marine life including fish eggs. “The catch is higher than the use of traditional boats and fishing gear but the adverse impact on the marine environment is great” Kumara said. The destruction to marine life was visible within a few years after the introduction of trawlers in South India. According to reports up to the 1970’s there had been an increase in fish landings and then a steady decline in prawn landings and fluctuations in fish catches. Sri Lankan fishermen are free today to carry out their occupation after several years of restrictions placed by the conflict. “Indian fishermen trespassing in our sea territory deprives us the opportunity of good fish catches” fisheries societies said.
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Committee on Fisheries concerns about Secure Sustainable Small Scale Fisheries
Twenty-Ninth Session of the Committee of Fisheries [COFI} a subsidiary body of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome 31st January – 4th February 2011.
The Committee presently constitutes the only intergovernmental forum where major international fisheries and aquaculture problems and issues are examined and recommendations addressed to governments, regional fishery bodies, NGO’s, fishworkers, FAO and international community, periodically on a worldwide basis. COFI is where as a forum global agreements and non-binding instruments are negotiated. Representing the world’s small-scale fish harvesters within this U.N. body, it had taken ten years of struggle, to get to this point where recognition of the rights of the Small-scale fishers were to be conferred upon. Such was the importance of this most crucial meet that being a participant carried a heavy burden on one’s shoulders not only for our own local fishers but for the fishing communities of the world. Stemming from civil society at the FAO Global Conference on Small-scale Fisheries [4SSF] in Bangkok 2008 and the subsequent regional conferences held in Maputo [Africa], Costa Rica [Americas] and Bangkok [Asia] in 2010 the call was for an international instrument on small-scale fisheries that was human rights based. All three regional conferences resolutions all brought to the fore the same message of equity, genuine democracy both participatory and representative, sustainability, recognition, non-discrimination and the protection against human rights abuses. The fisher people had spoken and it was our job to call for everything they wanted and attempt to get it implemented and not to settle for “better than nothing” or to gather the crumbs from the table. The outcome after four days of caucusing, side events, meetings with African Union and Nepad and presentations was a meritorious achievement and a triumph. Even though the committee approved the development of a new international instrument on small-scale fisheries that should draw on relevant existing instruments that compliments the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, this was not altogether an outright victory as the work to implement the guidelines and to clarify “who are we”? ranks as our next biggest challenge.
THE OUTCOME at COFI; GOOD PRACTICES IN THE GOVERNANCE OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES; SHARING OF EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS LEARNED IN RESPONSIBLE FOSHERIES FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT [ITEM 10]
51 The committee welcomed the conclusions and recommendations stemming from an extensive process of consultation, including three regional workshops, with the effective participation.
52. The committee agreed on the important role played by the small-scale fisheries sector particularly for developing countries in the context of food security and poverty alleviation. The Committee noted that often this importance was not recognized and due attention given to the needs of small-scale fishers and their communities. The Committee further agreed that FAO should continue to give high priority to small-scale fisheries and ensure adequate visibility for them, particularly in relevant international fora which dealt directly or indirectly with these fisheries.
53. The Committee recognized the need to take account of the heterogeneity, diversity and complexity of the small-scale fisheries sector, including it’s cross-sectoral and gender dimensions, when defining policies and measures. The Committee noted the concern about the need for clarification of the term “small-scale fisheries”.
54. Consistent with the conclusions and recommendations of the regional workshops, the Committee approved the development of a new international instrument on small-scale fisheries that would draw on relevant existing instruments, complementing the Code. The Committee agreed that the new instrument should be voluntary in nature, address both inland and marine fisheries and focus on the needs of developing countries. The Committee indicated some preliminary issues to be addressed in this instrument, recommending that all stakeholders should be associated, as appropriate with this development.
55. The Committee agreed that the new instrument should take the form of international guidelines rather than an international plan of action or a new Code article.
56. The Committee noted the proposal made by some Members to establish a COFI Sub-Committee on Small-scale Fisheries, but no agreement was reached on that matter.
57. The Committee agreed on the need to strengthen the conditions of safety at sea in particular with regard to small-scale fisheries.
58. The Committee agreed to the establishment and implementation of a global assistance programme along thematic areas proposed.
Thanks to Andrew Johnston, Artisanal Fishers Association of South Africa for his contribution on COFI 2011.
The Committee presently constitutes the only intergovernmental forum where major international fisheries and aquaculture problems and issues are examined and recommendations addressed to governments, regional fishery bodies, NGO’s, fishworkers, FAO and international community, periodically on a worldwide basis. COFI is where as a forum global agreements and non-binding instruments are negotiated. Representing the world’s small-scale fish harvesters within this U.N. body, it had taken ten years of struggle, to get to this point where recognition of the rights of the Small-scale fishers were to be conferred upon. Such was the importance of this most crucial meet that being a participant carried a heavy burden on one’s shoulders not only for our own local fishers but for the fishing communities of the world. Stemming from civil society at the FAO Global Conference on Small-scale Fisheries [4SSF] in Bangkok 2008 and the subsequent regional conferences held in Maputo [Africa], Costa Rica [Americas] and Bangkok [Asia] in 2010 the call was for an international instrument on small-scale fisheries that was human rights based. All three regional conferences resolutions all brought to the fore the same message of equity, genuine democracy both participatory and representative, sustainability, recognition, non-discrimination and the protection against human rights abuses. The fisher people had spoken and it was our job to call for everything they wanted and attempt to get it implemented and not to settle for “better than nothing” or to gather the crumbs from the table. The outcome after four days of caucusing, side events, meetings with African Union and Nepad and presentations was a meritorious achievement and a triumph. Even though the committee approved the development of a new international instrument on small-scale fisheries that should draw on relevant existing instruments that compliments the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, this was not altogether an outright victory as the work to implement the guidelines and to clarify “who are we”? ranks as our next biggest challenge.
THE OUTCOME at COFI; GOOD PRACTICES IN THE GOVERNANCE OF SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES; SHARING OF EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS LEARNED IN RESPONSIBLE FOSHERIES FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT [ITEM 10]
51 The committee welcomed the conclusions and recommendations stemming from an extensive process of consultation, including three regional workshops, with the effective participation.
52. The committee agreed on the important role played by the small-scale fisheries sector particularly for developing countries in the context of food security and poverty alleviation. The Committee noted that often this importance was not recognized and due attention given to the needs of small-scale fishers and their communities. The Committee further agreed that FAO should continue to give high priority to small-scale fisheries and ensure adequate visibility for them, particularly in relevant international fora which dealt directly or indirectly with these fisheries.
53. The Committee recognized the need to take account of the heterogeneity, diversity and complexity of the small-scale fisheries sector, including it’s cross-sectoral and gender dimensions, when defining policies and measures. The Committee noted the concern about the need for clarification of the term “small-scale fisheries”.
54. Consistent with the conclusions and recommendations of the regional workshops, the Committee approved the development of a new international instrument on small-scale fisheries that would draw on relevant existing instruments, complementing the Code. The Committee agreed that the new instrument should be voluntary in nature, address both inland and marine fisheries and focus on the needs of developing countries. The Committee indicated some preliminary issues to be addressed in this instrument, recommending that all stakeholders should be associated, as appropriate with this development.
55. The Committee agreed that the new instrument should take the form of international guidelines rather than an international plan of action or a new Code article.
56. The Committee noted the proposal made by some Members to establish a COFI Sub-Committee on Small-scale Fisheries, but no agreement was reached on that matter.
57. The Committee agreed on the need to strengthen the conditions of safety at sea in particular with regard to small-scale fisheries.
58. The Committee agreed to the establishment and implementation of a global assistance programme along thematic areas proposed.
Thanks to Andrew Johnston, Artisanal Fishers Association of South Africa for his contribution on COFI 2011.
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