Thiruvananthapuram: A Thiruvananthapuram based researcher hailing from the local fishing hamlet of Pulluvila, addressed the UN General Assembly on the sidelines of concluding sessions of International Ocean Conference (IOC).
Lisba Yesudas, an Associate Professor in Malayalam at St Xavier’s, Thumba, was part of a three-member delegation from city that attended the conference at New York.
She was part of NGO, Friends of Marine Life (FML) which was among 112 similar organisations that attended the IOC which strives to conserve and sustainably use the marine resources for sustainable development.
During the course of the conference between June 5 and June 9, the tables also turned in favour of FML when it was enlisted among the few organisations that could address the Assembly.
“India’s marine biodiversity assessment studies have not given much attention to the livelihood areas of fishermen. With limited understanding of the seabed ecosystems, application of new technologies has led to commercialisation of fish industries in the country. This has encouraged illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and destructive practices,” she said.
She apprised the Assembly on the need to document the marine protected areas of India of which only 1 per cent has been identified.
Ms Lisba who is in her mid 30s, hails from Pulluvila coastal hamlet and is settled at Kochuthoppu, another fishing village. She is presently pursing her doctorate on the oral tradition of coastal areas in South Travancore.
FML delegation proposed that governments levy “blue tax” for destructive fishing and “blue benefits” for sustainable fishing practices. The three member delegation is including Robert Panippilla of Valiyathura and James Jament of Poonthura.
