KOLLAM: The issues of fish workers across the globe will be raised at the seventh general assembly of World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP) to be held in New Delhi from November 15 to 21. The representatives from over 60 countries will participate in the event organised by the National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF). The WFFP assembly is convened once in three years and the last one was held in South Africa. The assembly will discuss the issues of traditional and small-scale fishermen to find effective solutions. “This is the 20th year of the formation of WFFP, the fishers’ movement representing some 10 million fisherpeople worldwide.
The WFFP coordinating committee has decided to host a series of global workshops before the general assembly and ensure the participation of one woman and one man from each member organisation,” said Mr T. Peter, general secretary NFF. The meeting will discuss the challenges faced by climate change, issues like conservation of fish wealth and sustainable fishing techniques, inland fisheries and seashore invasions and protection. The global workshops focus on ocean, land and water grabbing, food sovereignty and agro-ecology, inland fisheries and the international small-scale fishery guidelines.
The assembly will deal with extractive industries, hydro-power dams, tourism and port developments, and coal and nuclear power plants that directly affect fisher communities by depriving them of access to land and water bodies and undermining the potential of realising food sovereignty. On World Fisheries Day on November 21, a rally by the participating fishermen will be held in Delhi as part of the general assembly. The venue will also witness ethnic art forms by fishermen from across the globe.
