SAMUDRA Report No.79, August 2018

Item Type monograph

Publisher International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF)

Download date 23/09/2021 18:48:19

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/39782 No. 79 | August 2018 issn 0973–1121

REPORT samudrathe triannual journal of the international collective in support of fishworkers

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Safety and Health in Fishing Fisheries Co-operatives Labour and Human Rights Weather Forecasting SSF Guidelines

Fisheries, Communities, Livelihoods icsf is an international NGO working on issues that concern and action, as well as communications. samudra Report invites fishworkers the world over. It is in status with the Economic and contributions and responses. Correspondence should be addressed Social Council of the UN and is on ilo’s Special List of to Chennai, India. Non-governmental International Organizations. It also has Liaison Status with fao. The opinions and positions expressed in the articles are those of the authors concerned and do not necessarily represent the As a global network of community organizers, teachers, official views ofi csf. technicians, researchers and scientists, icsf’s activities encompass monitoring and research, exchange and training, campaigns All issues of samudra Report can be accessed at www.icsf.net

FAO/Desirey Minkoh REPORT front Cover samudra front Cover the triannual journal of the international collective in support of fishworkers No.79 | AUGUST 2018

artisanal sardine seiner / gildas

The sea is made of coal, sand and shells by Eli Smith [email protected]

Published by International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) Trust No: 22, First Floor Venkatrathinam Nagar Adyar Chennai - 600 020 Tamil Nadu India Phone: (91) 44–24451216 / 24451217 Fax: (91) 44–24450216 Email: [email protected] Website: www.icsf.net Brazil Review Edited by KG Kumar Shoved out ...... 4 The spirit of diversity...... 30

Designed by The indigenous Guaranis of Morro dos Cavalos, A review of a book on the global MS Vasanth Christopher Brazil, are being displaced from their lands implementation of the SSF Guidelines illustrations by Human Rights Sandesh Aquaculture A fishbowl approach...... 33 FOR LIMITED CIRCULATION ONLY Towards healthy work...... 7 Report on the Danish Institute for Human Rights’ On occupational safety and health meeting on the contribution of human rights to policies,practices, standards, problems and the sustainable development of fisheries challenges in aquaculture SAMUDRA News Alerts Indonesia SAMUDRA News Alerts is a free service designed to deliver news reports and analysis on fisheries, Sri Lanka Reclaiming rights...... 36 aquaculture and related issues, on a daily or On the causes for the poor nutritional intake in weekly digest basis, in plain text or html format. Wellbeing aspirations...... 12 Indonesia's coastal communities The service often features exclusive, original Fisheries co-operatives in Sri Lanka need to be stories on small-scale and artisanal fisheries, restructured into true co-management platforms particularly in the regions of the South, as well Report as issues that deal with women in fisheries and safety at sea. Apart from news and stories on Not a small focus...... 39 fisheries, the service also focuses on environmental Human Rights The 33rd Session of the FAO Committee on and oceans issues. Please visit http://www. icsf.net Fisheries (COFI) integrated small-scale fisheries to subscribe to SAMUDRA News Alerts. Don't jump ship...... 17 issues into almost all agenda items The Seafood Slavery Risk Tool tracks abuses of BACK Cover labour and human rights in seafood supply chains Weather A fishers’ forecaster...... 43 Report On how fishermen and scientists are being brought together to track wind and waves, and save lives Building back better ...... 20 A look back at a workshop on Cyclone Ockhi, Report which swept through parts of south India Cinema and resistance...... 46 Report on the Pêcheurs du Monde film festival, REPORT which turns 10 this year Connecting the dots ...... 26

Fishermen in the port of Ajim, Djerba After nine years, the largest conference on Comment...... 3 Island, Tunisia occupational safety and health in the fishing Photo : Nikos Economopoulous/Magnum industry returns Roundup...... 50 Photo/FAO FAO/sia kambou Fishermen offloading tunas, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire From Rhetoric to Reality

As the implementation of the SSF Guidelines gets under way, it is imperative to lobby for policies and processes that will empower small-scale fishing communities

he Thirty-third Session of the Committee on and markets. In addition, delegates solidly backed C omme n t TFisheries (COFI) of the Food and Agriculture the proposal to establish a new sub-committee on Organization of the United Nations (FAO), held in fisheries management under COFI, also with a focus Rome in July 2018, proved to be a watershed for on small-scale fisheries. small-scale fisheries. This COFI discussed, among We hope these initiatives to strengthen small- other things, several exciting initiatives for the scale fisheries will transform into policies and implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for processes that will empower small-scale fishing Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the communities and indigenous peoples who are Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication dependent on small-scale fisheries for their life, (SSF Guidelines) (see article, page 39). livelihood and cultural wellbeing, at both the local These initiatives, focusing on men and women and, particularly, the national level. The stories from small-scale artisanal fishing communities and of displacement and loss of adjacency rights of indigenous peoples, were reported by delegates indigenous peoples dependent on coastal, riverine from both developed and developing countries, and other inland water fisheries, as well as denial of including Small-Island Developing States (SIDS). It their legal rights to territory, are many (see article was gratifying to note that some countries that had on page 4, for example). Disruption of the land-sea not been so enthusiastic interface by reclamation during the negotiation projects, which negatively stage, are now actively impact the livelihood of promoting the SSF local small-scale fishing 3 Guidelines at various communities through levels. pollution and destruction While some of these of coastal biodiversity as initiatives focused on well as the exploration and integrating the SSF exploitation of hydrocarbons Guidelines into national and minerals, are all real donor policy, national threats that hang over plans of action on small- small-scale artisanal fishing scale fisheries, and communities. national legislation on We at ICSF have been small-scale fisheries, others following COFI meetings aimed at realizing regional strategies to ensure since 1995, and are pleased to note that, for the first the sustainability of fishery resources as well as time, COFI has swung the spotlight onto small-scale improving data on small-scale fisheries at the global fisheries. The SSF Guidelines have suddenly woken level. Most, if not all, of these initiatives upheld the up the global community to the potential of small- guiding principles of the SSF Guidelines, such as scale fisheries in eradicating poverty, in enhancing participation in decision-making processes and the food security and in securing sustainable fisheries. need to stand up for human-rights principles and Evidently, now is the time to move from standards. rhetoric to reality. We hope there will be global Considerable support was expressed for the civil support to assist small-scale fishing communities society-initiated SSF Guidelines Global Strategic and indigenous peoples to address, in a coherent Framework (SSF GSF) to facilitate interaction between and consistent manner, local and national threats COFI Members and interested State and non-State challenging their existence. In this connection we actors to promote the implementation of the SSF do need to be cautious that the economic, social, Guidelines at all levels. Significant enthusiasm was cultural and environmental conditions essential for shown in celebrating 2022 as the “International the wellbeing of small-scale fishing communities Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture”, and indigenous peoples are not forgotten. Prudence as proclaimed by the United Nations General is required to ensure that small-scale fishing Assembly, and in developing a road map towards communities are understood to be integral to small- it. There was eagerness to meet the Sustainable scale artisanal fisheries, and that the SSF Guidelines Development Goal 14.b to provide access for implementation process protects their interests in small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources all time frames across the world.

AUGUST 2018 Brazil Indigenous Rights

Shoved Out

The Guaranis, indigenous people of Morro dos Cavalos in Brazil, are being displaced from their lands to satisfy the interests of politicians and businesses

he current Brazilian political the rights of indigenous people over situation is very worrying as far their lands are defined as original Tas the indigenous problem is rights, which go back even before the concerned. It is even more worrying formation of the State of Brazil. The if we consider Brazil's ethnic diversity, land rights are original and, therefore, with 305 ethnic groups that include cannot be restricted to any “time 896,000 people declared as indigenous, reference”. according to the 2010 demographic The “time reference” is contrary to census carried out by the Brazilian the Federal Constitution, as it breaks Institute of Geography and Statistics with the indigenous rights, requiring (IBGE). Besides the prejudice, injustice proof of indigenous possession over 4 and the insufficiency of public policies, that territory, without considering indigenous people must struggle the fact that many indigenous people every day to secure their lands. These were violently expelled from their struggles have become increasingly lands and would not be occupying difficult because of the current them before 5 October 1988. Opinion government's political maneuvering. 001/2017/AGU – known as the “anti- On 19 July 2017, a legal opinion issued demarcation opinion” by indigenist by Attorney General Grace Mendonça and indigenous people – opens the possibility of re-discussing the lands already demarcated, and expelling the indigenous communities from Indigenous people have been in the area claimed for their lands, as well as hindering and decades, including in 1988, and the demarcated land paralyzing new demarcations. The cut- never ceased to have the indigenous presence. off date also contravenes the Union's duty to protect indigenous lands, as well as Article 231, paragraph 5, of the Federal Constitution, which forbids the (opinion 001/2017/AGU) was removal of the indigenous people from endorsed by President Michel Temer, their lands. which aims at reassessing indigenous The Brazilian Public Federal land demarcations and restricting their Ministry, through a technical note land rights. (No. 02/2018-6CCR), requested the According to opinion 001/2017/ annulment of opinion 001/2017/AGU, AGU, the demarcated lands can only stating that it is unconstitutional, be considered indigenous lands if they being “a deliberate denial of rights are under the possession of indigenous enshrined in the Constitution of the people before 5 October 1988 – the Republic, in international human day the Federal Constitution was rights law and infra-constitutional promulgated. Despite the reference legislation”. In the note, the Federal to the Federal Constitution, the Public Ministry also states that the This article is by Ana Paula Rainho “time reference” contradicts the opinion is used as an artefact to evade ([email protected]), Member, ICSF, and a doctoral student at the Federal premise of the indigenous rights in the rights of indigenous people to their University of Santa Catarina, Brazil the Constitution, which states that territories, and implies a “paralysis of

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Indigenous Rights the demarcations of indigenous lands, be recognized. In addition, measures generating risks and legal uncertainty shall be taken in appropriate cases of repeal of acts already constituted, to safeguard the right of the peoples of potentiating conflicts between concerned to use lands not exclusively indigenous and non-indigenous occupied by them, but to which they (people)”. The Federal Public Ministry have traditionally had access for their mentions more than once in its subsistence and traditional activities. technical note how the opinion violates Particular attention shall be paid to international human rights law, which the situation of nomadic peoples and can lead to a risk of abrogating the shifting cultivators in this respect. international responsibility of the 2. Governments shall take steps as Brazilian State. necessary to identify the lands which Contrary to the technical note of the the peoples concerned traditionally Federal Public Ministry, the Minister of occupy, and to guarantee effective the Federal Supreme Court, Alexandre protection of their rights of ownership de Moraes, issued an opinion stating and possession”. that indigenous Guarani lands in the The “time reference” disrespects the state of Santa Catarina should be C169 because it not only prevents new reviewed on a “time reference” basis. On demarcations but also opens the way to 6 June 2018, federal and state deputies re-discuss land that has already been appealed to the Minister of Justice and demarcated. It thus fails to guarantee National Indian Foundation (FUNAI) property rights and land tenure, and to request that they re-evaluate the removes lands already demarcated demarcation of the Guarani indigenous and guaranteed for indigenous people. lands, specifically the Indigenous In article 16 of C169, it is mentioned Land Morro dos Cavalos, based on the that indigenous people: “... shall not 5 “time reference” and on the opinion be removed from the lands which of the Minister, Alexandre de Moraes. they occupy” (paragraph 1), but under However, the survey conducted by exceptional circumstances (paragraph FUNAI shows the opposite: Indigenous 2), they may be relocated, with their people have been in the area claimed free and informed consent. Thus, for decades, including in 1988, and the the decision of Minister Alexandre demarcated land never ceased to have de Moraes not only violates the first the indigenous presence. According to paragraph of the above article 16 but the Guaranis of the Indigenous Land also the second paragraph, since at no Morro dos Cavalos, there have always been Guaranis in this land, not only Jekupe Mawe before 1988, but before the arrival of the colonizers in 1500. On 19 April 2004, Brazil ratified the International Labour Organization Convention No. 169 (C169), through Decree 5051. However, the “time reference” does not comply with many of the fundamental points of the Convention. One of them is the emphasis on the participation of indigenous people in national and local policies that affect them directly. At no time were the indigenous people consulted during the formulation of opinion 001/2017/AGU. This opinion also grossly disregards the whole of C169 relating to land tenure, as mentioned in article 14, paragraphs 1 and 2: “1. The rights of ownership and possession of the peoples concerned over the lands Guarani women and children. The Guarani of the subgroup Mbyá have lost access to sea fish when their which they traditionally occupy shall boats were burned, but they can still fish in the river as long as they have their land guaranteed

AUGUST 2018 Brazil

time was the decision taken jointly with AGU, together with the decision of the the Guarani indigenous people. They Federal Supreme Court Justice, puts do not wish to leave their territory at them at risk of losing the Indigenous all. Land Morro dos Cavalos, denying these Besides all these happenings, the indigenous communities access to their Guaranis of the Indigenous Land Morro food security and reproduction of their dos Cavalos resist, in spite of the strong cultural, social and spiritual practices. pressures that they are suffering on Opinion 001/2017/AGU aims their land, pressures that occur beyond to remove indigenous people from the juridical front. In 2017, their boats their lands to satisfy the interests of were burned in a criminal fire that was the wealthy agribusiness, mining never investigated. The intention was interests and politicians, who, in the case of the Indigenous Land Morro dos Cavalos, have already consolidated their interests in building a railroad The fish is responsible for nourishing the souls and raising within the territory of the Guaranis. the spirituality of the Guaranis. This unconstitutional opinion seriously violates indigenous rights in accordance with national and international law. The current government has the distiction of demarcating the least number of to set their villages on fire, but because indigenous lands in the history of the of the direction of the wind, only some country since democratization; not trees caught fire. The Guaranis who only did it not demarcate, but it is also inhabit the Morro dos Cavalos are of creating precedents, through the “time 6 two subgroups: Mbyá and Ñandeva, reference”, to do something that has which have as food source, fishing, never been done before – to remove hunting, and products derived from the indigenous people from their their fields. Unfortunately, they have already demarcated lands. However, lost access to sea fish when their boats the Guarani people are resisting and were burned, but they can still fish in together with them, we will support the river as long as they have their land the struggle for the rights of indigenous guaranteed. people. The guarantee of access to the river and the sea is very important for the Guarani people of the Indigenous Land Morro dos Cavalos. According to the anthropologist Mártin César Tempass, For more the Guaranis of the subgroup Mbyá present a very special relationship with http://www.stf.jus.br/repositorio/ the fish, since the fish serves as food, cms/portalStfInternacional/ not only material but also spiritual. The portalStfSobreCorte_en_us/anexo/ fish is responsible for nourishing the Constitution_2013.pdf souls and raising the spirituality of the Constitution of the Federative Guaranis. To attain such spirituality, Republic of Brazil 1988 which they call “soul perfection”, the https://www.socioambiental.org/sites/ Mbyá Guarani are dedicated to a series blog.socioambiental.org/files/nsa/ of rules established according to their arquivos/2017apib_report_indigenous_ cosmological foundations. The food situation_brazil.pdf. rules are decisive to the construction Michel Temer’s government acts of this spirituality they wish for. The to violate indigenous peoples’ territorial rights fish are indicated for the construction of bodies and perfect souls, showing http://www.agu.gov.br/atos/ the importance of fish and fishing for detalhe/1552758 the Mbyá Guarani people. However, to A legal opinion issued by Attorney continue to have access to the fish, the General Grace Mendonça (Parecer nº 001/2017/GAB/CGU/AGU, dated Mbyá and Ñandeva need the guarantee July 19th, 2017) of their land. Thus, opinion 001/2017/

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Aquaculture Occupational Safety Towards Healthy Work

An FAO project examines global occupational health and safety policies, practices, standards, problems and challenges in aquaculture occupational safety and health (AOSH)

he plight of millions of aquaculture diving, construction works, feeding, workers across the world, in harvesting, processing and transport of Tterms of working conditions produce. Some information was also and basic health and safety, is often gathered on women workers, migrant neglected, if not ignored altogether. workers and child labour in the context They are frequently invisible to of human rights linked to worker governments and regulators, and can health and safety. Welfare conditions all too often be forgotten or neglected and work-related factors contributing by local and national health and labour to occupational injury, disease and services. They may also be lost under ill-health have been included, such as an ‘agricultural’ occupational health low wages, insecure work, housing, and safety umbrella which is meant to access to healthcare, and transport. cover aquaculture but may not. Whilst recognizing the varied and, at 7 New efforts to address these times, complex economic, social and problems at an international level have begun with an initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the The project looked at global occupational health and United Nations (FAO) to start scoping safety policies, practices, standards, problems and out activity, data gaps, problems and, finally, successes across the globe in challenges in aquaculture occupational safety and tackling the health and safety problems health (AOSH). of these workers. They include fish farmers onshore and offshore, prawn and shrimp farmers, oyster, mussel political as well as geographic and and other shellfish farmers, seaweed climatic settings in which aquaculture farmers and other aquaculture workers. can operate, the research focus was on The search for practical solutions to trying to identify evidence of effective removing or reducing hazards and risks AOSH systems and practical and simple in numerous and varied settings across solutions to AOSH problems. the globe is the focus of the project. The desk-based project, drawing on expertise from the team, used Global polices peer-reviewed and grey literature on The project looked at global AOSH. Key factors affecting AOSH occupational health and safety policies, were explored, such as the social practices, standards, problems and organization of work, regulation challenges in aquaculture occupational and non-regulation, and the role safety and health (AOSH) along the of industry, government, non- primary supply chain, in marine and governmental organizations (NGOs) and freshwater locations, and in a range labour. National and regional profiles of employment settings. The project on AOSH from around the world This article is by Andrew Watterson examined material on the hazards were then produced using a standard ([email protected]), Occupational contributing to occupational health template for key countries where and Environmental Health Research Group, Centre for Public Health and Population risks that result in occupational information was readily available. Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences injury and disease as well as risks Profiles generated included those from and Sport, Pathfoot Building, University of from high-risk activities such as Africa to Australasia, and Europe to Stirling, Stirling, Scotland

AUGUST 2018 Aquaculture

North and Latin America. In addition, All too often, AOSH is marginalised relevant global legislation, national or ‘lost’ by government, industry and, laws, international codes, labour sometimes, labour organizations practice guidance, industry standards dealing with agriculture or fisheries and NGO and trade union initiatives as there is usually little specific focus were examined. The national and or attention paid to aquaculture. Yet regional profiles will shortly be made priority and investment are given available for workers to access and use to production, processes, cost, food the findings, if relevant to them. safety, sustainability and wider Several major issues emerge from environmental issues within the sector the report. Many gaps have been by industry and government. This discovered in our global knowledge contrasts starkly with under-funded of the working conditions of upwards NGOs, including trade unions and of 18 mn aquaculture workers. This other civil society groups, who do work relates not only to documenting the on aquaculture and fishing, who are hazards they face but the injuries and often best placed to reach such workers diseases they suffer. There is also much and who use innovative and accessible we do not know about the different social media and networking tools. Yet regulatory and risk management these organizations often have very systems that may or may not be in place limited resources and staff to reach to protect them. large numbers of the most vulnerable Independent analyses of the of workers in rural communities. extent and the effectiveness of The human, social and economic existing prevention and risk-reduction toll of poor AOSH is considerable and strategies adopted are limited. These often externalised by industry and 8 findings emerge across all the national government, and is likely to be borne by and regional profiles compiled for this the workers and communities affected report, although in a few countries directly through occupational injuries more is known about AOSH than and diseases and indirectly through elsewhere. low wages, long hours, job insecurity

Occupational health, safety Sustainability Other factors incluencing and water and consumers AOHS - the judiciary Species Production and - government agencies Environment markets and supply Volume and chains - industry bodies Technology and machinery Consumers - trade union bodies Location Water International codes - ngos and civil society Laws and inspections Aquaculture Worker/TU rights - Ethics Resources Land - feeds and seeds as key Information Quality and Food safety and resources/inputs in the Systems/management and consumers consumers production process Training Climate - socio-economic benefits Chemicals and antibiotics Fish of aquaculture: Costs and welfare - food security & nutrition PPE consumers Environmental hazards - Employment Targets - Income Hours of work Welfare provisions

The current location of aquaculture occupational safety and health in aquaculture. The diagram identifies issues affecting AOSH and how it has been marginalized

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Occupational Safety and, in many contexts, poor welfare Successes include: (i) workforce and social security. OSH hazards in OSH agreements with European the sector are all too often associated aquaculture companies operating with other labour exploitation issues in developing countries such as such as forced labour, child labour, Ghana; (ii) extension services in debt bondage, discrimination, and some parts of the United States (US); denial of rights to association and (iii) technological innovations and collective bargaining negotiations hazard assessment in Norway linked to and labour agreements. While some regulation; (iv) Canadian technology aquaculture workers are highly trained innovations in reducing hazardous and in secure jobs globally, most are exposures; (v) changed South African from these vulnerable populations in precarious work – women, indigenous people, children, seasonal workers, ...small-scale interventions in rural communities, migrant workers, rural and remote especially in Asia, Africa and Latin America, are workers. Monitoring and inspection of drawing on barefoot and participatory action research AOSH in the sector based on effective to improve AOSH. regulations are certainly needed but are patchy globally and may not exist at all. Healthy work is good for business and occupational health and safety communities, but the message is still management improving practices; and often misunderstood or deliberately (vi) Scottish and United Kingdom (UK) ignored. Guidance usually comes tripartite body initiatives improving from general agricultural or OSH rules knowledge exchange. and codes. These may be useful in Solutions to OSH issues, based 9 providing a broad health and safety on standard health risk assessment framework within which to control and and risk-management techniques remove risks. However, they can lack are relevant to large, small and specific and more detailed information medium-sized enterprises. Many will and standards directly relevant to be equally applicable to family and the aquaculture industry. Efforts of village production units. Trade unions mainstreaming and applying OSH and NGOs can also provide important policies and practices in the aquaculture information and advice, and trigger sector face many challenges, given the action. complexity of issues involved and the The International Labour diversity of contexts of aquaculture Organization (ILO) and FAO codes on development. The diagram identifies occupational health and safety, human issues affecting AOSH and how it has rights and ‘Decent Work’ programmes been marginalised. provide some of the most effective The good news is that there has been models for addressing and raising some increase in AOSH research and weak AOSH standards. When linked to prevention initiatives in recent decades, initiatives in other Ministries – Labour, driven in different locations by the state, Health and Social Security – adoption regulators, civil society and consumers, and implementation of these codes in particular. Solutions – technical and and programmes can ensure progress organizational – have been mooted, happens and is monitored over the with the potential to remove or reduce years. The approaches appear to some risks from known hazards. So operate relatively well in parts of Asia good regulations, monitoring and and Latin America. They could provide enforcement underpinned by effective a benchmark for international agencies, industry, community and labour funders and non-governmental engagement, surveillance, research agencies in their efforts to improve and knowledge transfer may help to working conditions in aquaculture. guide strategies to improve AOSH. All such strategies and initiatives require Good AOSH practice thorough research and evaluation not Aquaculture certification schemes always currently available. that include OSH as well as training,

AUGUST 2018 Aquaculture

Core FAO project team he following comprise the core team: Lissandra Cavalli (Brazil), Mohamed Jeebhay T(South Africa), Rebecca Mitchell (Australia and New Zealand), Barbara Neis (Canada), Andrew Watterson (Scotland: Project co-ordinator). National profiles/authors: Australia and New Zealand (Rebecca Mitchell and Reidar Lystad), Brazil (Lissandra Cavalli and Flavielle Marques), Ghana (Mohamed Jeebhay and Dorothy Ngajilo), Canada (Barbara Neis and Christine Knott), Norway (Ingunn Marie Holmen and Trine Thorvaldsen), South Africa (Mohamed Jeebhay and Dorothy Ngajilo), UK (Andrew Watterson), US (Michael Barnes, Jill Voorhees and Nancy Barnes). Regional profiles/authors: Asia (Andrew Watterson), Europe (Andrew Watterson), Latin America (Lissandra Cavalli and Flavielle Marques), Sub-Saharan Africa (Mohamed Jeebhay and Dorothy Ngajilo).

quality, sustainability and food services, regulatory standards, safety elements may also help to tripartite initiatives and monitoring raise awareness and standards in the policies. However, even within these sector, especially in countries and regions, between and within countries, regions where regulation, monitoring activity and information on AOSH are and enforcement structures are just patchy. The US, Norway and Canada developing. There is some limited have the longest history of research and evidence to support this from around consultancy on AOSH, with Norway the world, and more independent having probably the most advanced 10 evaluation is needed. standards and practices. Some Generally, there are significant countries in Africa and Asia (India, needs and opportunities for multi- Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh), stakeholder and inter-agency Australia and the UK have also done collaboration involving interested some research work on AOSH either workers’ representatives, aquaculture through government departments, producers and industry, fish value consultancies or universities that has chain actors, government authorities further promoted improved industry (health, OSH, aquaculture, agriculture, practice. fisheries, etc.), NGOs, OSH research and academia and others to further Vulnerable groups mainstream and implement OSH issues International funder policies may and management practices in the have a major impact on AOSH. There aquaculture sector. are global trends of de-regulation and The project identified global, reduced support to public authorities regional and national initiatives – resulting from policy, practice and contributing to greater awareness of regulation through economic controls OSH in the sector, better information or cuts on public services such as health dissemination approaches, raised and OSH inspectorates. These trends standards and inspections, good quality could be reversed to the benefit of advice and effective interventions. improved OSH coverage in aquaculture Globally, ILO and FAO, through and other sectors. the ‘Decent Work’ programmes and The International Union of Food, support for developing governmental Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, OSH frameworks in various countries, Catering, Tobacco and Allied have produced the most important Workers' Associations (IUF) and other recent initiatives, especially influential international trade secretariats can in Asia, South America and some promote good AOSH practice and African countries. monitor and raise awareness of bad Regionally, Europe and North practices. NGOs like the International America contain examples of good Collective in Support of Fishworkers practice through government, state (ICSF) could have important roles in and academic research and advice reaching and supporting vulnerable

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Occupational Safety

FAO/Giuseppe Bizzarr

A farmer fishing in a pond, Konu Gyi, Myanmar. Efforts of mainstreaming and applying OSH policies and practices in the aquaculture sector face many challenges, given the complexity of issues involved and the diversity of contexts of aquaculture development groups of aquaculture workers by (Global G.A.P.) and Best Aquaculture providing information, education and Practices (BAP) are including OSH support, and using social media. issues and may merit independent Along with macro-level national evaluation of OSH impacts. While 11 interventions through comprehensive efforts to improve quality management laws and their effective monitoring and such as the International Organization enforcement, small-scale interventions for Standardization (ISO) 9001 still in rural communities, especially in Asia, dominate, OSH remains relatively Africa and Latin America, are drawing neglected in most aquaculture industry on barefoot and participatory action schemes. However, both ISO 14001 For more research to improve AOSH. These (Environmental management) and small-scale initiatives could prove very British Standard Occupational Health https://www.seafoodsource.com/features/ new-report-to-highlight-dangers-facing- important in raising awareness about and Safety Assessment Series (BS-OHSAS) aquaculture-workers AOSH and providing available simple 18001 are now being implemented by New report to highlight dangers low-cost solutions to major hazards. some aquaculture companies. facing aquaculture workers This is the other end of the spectrum Understanding the complex social, from the types of extension services cultural, economic and political https://www.stir.ac.uk/news/2018/06/ available and dominant in North inter-relationships and weighting of urgent-action-on-risks-to-aquaculture- workers-needed-study-finds/ America and Europe. factors influencing AOSH in different Urgent action on risks to Progressive multinational countries and different settings will aquaculture workers needed, study companies and consultancies can be the key to effective action. All these finds provide another arm of effective elements need to be considered if there https://www.stir.ac.uk/news/2017/12/ intervention work on AOSH through is to be a successful introduction of drive-to-improve-health-and-safety-for- application of existing laws in their risk assessment, risk management, global-aquaculture-workers/ own countries and transfer of good information and training, risk removal Drive to improve health and safety practice and technology elsewhere and technical solutions to industry for global aquaculture workers in the world. In 2011, FAO issued the risks from multinational fish farms to http://www.fao.org/docrep/015/i2296t/ ‘Technical Guidelines for Aquaculture community and family aquaculture i2296t00.pdf Certification’. ponds. Technical guidelines on aquaculture certification Effective intervention Certification using international http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5980e.pdf Scoping study on decent work standards is gradually increasing in the and employment in fisheries and aquaculture industry. Schemes like the aquaculture: Issues and actions for Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), discussion and programming the Global Good Agricultural Practice

AUGUST 2018 Sri Lanka Co-operatives

Wellbeing Aspirations

Fisheries co-operatives in Sri Lanka need to be restructured into true co-management platforms to ensure the sustainable use of coastal zone resources

t is now recognized that fishing is have won the faith of the fishers, and not simply catching fish and earning their membership has grown to include Ian income, but a way of life which even the majority of the women is especially true with small-scale fisherfolk. However, one of the serious fisheries, which comprise nearly 90 weaknesses of the co-operatives has per cent of all fisheries in developing been their failure to play any significant countries. All activities in fishing are role in resource management, firmly embedded in culture, values, especially in controlling entry into customs and traditions of fishing fisheries. On another front, it is to be communities, and thus the decisions noted that fishers form only one type concerning fishing are generally of stakeholders using resources in the sociocultural constructs rather than coastal zone. The others are farmers, those based on profit-maximizing industries, tourism stakeholders, etc., 12 rational choices. For natural scientists, whose decisions concerning resource fishing is an issue of ecosystem health; use are often in conflict, requiring for social scientists it is a case of social cross-sectoral collaboration. Given the welfare and wellbeing, while for dominant position enjoyed by fisheries governors and managers, it is policies, co-operatives in the coastal zone, laws and management mechanisms for restructuring of fisheries co-operatives sustainable resource use. However, for in Sri Lanka is needed to organize fishers it is a particular way or life which them into true co-management platforms towards attaining the goal of sustainable use of coastal zone Co-operatives have won the faith of the fishers, and their resources. Fisheries co-operatives in Sri Lanka membership has grown to include even the majority of have a post-independence origin. They the women fisherfolk. have been initiated by the government and are organized with the intervention of two government departments, the Department of Co-operative meets their wellbeing aspirations – a Development and the Department of much broader composite goal. The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which oft-noted complaint of fishers is that make them a particular type of ‘formal their diverse wellbeing aspirations are organizations’. This is often perceived as not properly understood by the state a crucial weakness, and even contrary actors, who often manage fisheries to the essence of the co-operative from the top, with little contact with movement. The Overseas Co-operative those at the bottom. Development Council thus concludes In such a context, the fisheries flatly that: “government-controlled co-operatives in Sri Lanka can be parastatals are not true co-operatives”. considered as true community Yet, these ‘formal’ types of organizations institutions, catering to the varying performed a number of functions during needs of the fishers – from the the Blue Revolution era (1950-1970), This article is by Oscar Amarasinghe ([email protected]), President of provision of technical and financial when the new fishing technology was the Sri Lanka Forum for Small-Scale Fisheries services to meeting their diverse channelled to the asset-poor fishers (SLFSSF), Sri Lanka wellbeing aspirations. Co-operatives through the fisheries co-operatives

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Co-operatives with financial assistance in the form of These were channelled to asset-poor subsidies including subsidized credit. fishers through fisheries co-operatives What is important to note is the fact with subsidies, including subsidized that membership in co-operatives is, in credit. Group guarantees by fellow principle, voluntary, and that individual members resolved the collateral co-operatives enjoy great freedom in problems and formation of crew groups planning, organizing and implementing under a caretaker owner who provided activities aimed at meeting the diverse access to large mechanized craft with needs of the community. As it will easy repayment schemes. be shown in this article, Sri Lanka’s By investing in bridging and fisheries co-operatives have a history of linking social capital, co-operatives being true community organizations, have formed strong social networks performing an array of functions horizontally and vertically, to do towards meeting the wellbeing favours for their membership: training, aspirations of their membership: the capacity building, procuring funds fishers and their families. for infrastructural development, Fisheries co-operatives in Sri Lanka community welfare, etc. Many a co- can be traced to 1912, when the Rural operative in Sri Lanka organizes all Credit Societies were established. village cultural and religious events, Then the Department of Co-operatives, provide tents, chairs and buffet sets which was established in 1930, took for weddings and for funerals, operate a new interest in the development pre-schools and children’s parks, of credit societies into co-operatives. organize private tuition classes for The first fisheries co-operative was school children, etc., thus facilitating established in 1942, with the objective the achievement of diverse wellbeing of providing credit facilities to fishers aspirations of their membership. 13 to acquire craft and gear, and to However, fisheries co-operation facilitate fish marketing. From 30 also had its drawbacks. From his studies registered societies in 1945, the number in southern Sri Lanka, the author has grew to 292 by 1972. A complete re- shown that co-operatives were used organization of co-operatives was done in early days (1960s and 1970s) by in that year, when village-level co- politicians to provide favours to their operatives were amalgamated to form political clientele by fraudulently primary co-operative societies serving channeling public goods. When a larger area. governments changed, new office The activities of these co-operatives bearers having political links to the are guided by the Co-operative Societies Act No. 5 of 1972, and the Oscar Amarasinghe Fisheries Co-operative Constitution. From 45 of such primary societies in 1973, they increased to 845 by the year 2016, with a membership of 95,891. However, only 596 co-operatives remained active, with around 70 per cent of them being concentrated in the north and the east of the country, which were heavily affected by the civil war during the 1983-2009 period. Many of the fisheries co-operatives in Sri Lanka can be characterized as multi- purpose, combining functions such as the provision of credit, technology and insurance; and occasionally, the organization of marketing. Their importance was strongly felt in early 1960s when the government introduced the new capital-intensive Blue Revolution technology: mechanized Women from a fisheries co-operative cleaning the garden around the fisheries office near Kalametiya Landing boats, nylon nets and outboard motors. Site, Hambantota, Sri Lanka. The co-operatives' membership has grown to include even the women fisherfolk

AUGUST 2018 Sri Lanka

party in power were elected, who had By 2017, there were 1,127 such easy access to public goods through RFOs (both marine and inland) with a the political clientele system of the membership of 98,748. Although, it has ministers and their aides-de-camp. Thus now taken almost eight years since their there have been incidences of collapse establishment, the RFOs still remain of certain co-operatives, due to such quite dormant, with no apparent role to political interference and corruption. perform. They have no clear vision and The fisheries co-operatives in Sri mission and, so far, have not performed Lanka were subject to several threats a single function that fisheries co- in the past. The first threat was the operatives used to perform. Yet, they withdrawal of state assistance and are the agents of the state, who grant patronage to fisheries co-operatives approval for various requests made by in 1994 because of the prioritization the membership and recipients of any of defence expenditure over others, public goods channelled to fisheries. In which was huge during the 30 years fact, what has happened in many parts of civil war in the country. This move of the country was that, the existing made some co-operatives defunct co-operatives have assumed the name or dormant. The second type of RFO, with the same membership and threat emanated when the Ministry same office bearers. Thus, while co- of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources operatives and RFOs are different by Development (MFARD) introduced a name, the membership remains the new type of community organization same in most areas. called the ‘Landing Site Management Nevertheless, in the minds of Committees’ (LSMCs) in 2004, with many fishers, fisheries co-operatives the aim of bringing in management still remain the most dominant type of community organization in coastal 14 functions into community-based organizations at the landing site level. areas. Many continue to function in an environment of zero state assistance, but as strong social networks based on trust and reciprocity among people. Some of the cooperatives in the south are completely run Quite interestingly, the co-operatives, as against RFOs, have a strong by women, leaving the men to concentrate on fishing. involvement of women. Some of the co- operatives in the south are completely run by women, leaving the men to concentrate on fishing. By providing About 1,000 such committees were group guarantees, they have invested established in the country, and some of in plant nurseries, boutiques, organic the co-operatives were disassembled to farming, etc., earning supplementary join these LSMCs, which were pledged incomes. In short, fisheries co- with an initial capital of LKR 1 mn (USD operatives still function as the only form 6214). The LSMCs never functioned of fisheries community organization and no funds were allocated to them. that represent the interests of fishers The third threat came in 2010, when and their families and work towards the Ministry of Fisheries established a meeting their wellbeing aspirations. multi-layered system of Rural Fisheries While fisheries co-operatives have Organizations (RFOs), and announced performed fairly well in meeting an that state assistance to small-scale array of wellbeing aspirations of the fishers would only be channelled fisherfolk, they have failed tremendously through RFOs. The RFOs functioned in managing the fisheries resources, only under the MFARD, without any especially in controlling entry. involvement by the Department of Co- Bioeconomic modelling studies in operative Development. The MFARD the southern marine fisheries of Sri thought that such a format would make Lanka have shown that high rates of things easier in channelling public resource exploitation (higher levels goods to the ‘needy’ fishers, and also of effort) occurred in fishing villages as a means of controlling community which had well-functioning co- organizations to meet the short-term operatives (Bata Atha South Fisheries goals of the political party in power. Co-operative in the Hambantota District

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Co-operatives is an example). In fact, in these villages, only one component of the coastal fishers have entered the fishery quite ecosystem, and fishers are only one freely and have exploited the resources stakeholder group in the coastal zone, heavily. Co-operatives have contributed with farmers, tourism stakeholders, to this situation by providing fishers industries and others forming a group with the means to access natural of multi-stakeholders exploiting the resources and the required livelihood same bundle of coastal resources. capitals to facilitate this access. This Therefore, decisions regarding coastal has to be related to the origins of the zone management need cross-sectoral fisheries co-operative movement in the collaboration to avoid conflicts among early 1940s, when co-operatives were stakeholders having different interests expected to provide the membership and different legal orders. Although with credit facilities to purchase they remain latent, conflicts among craft and gear, which is a function diverse stakeholders in the coastal zone tantamount to ‘facilitating entry’. Thus, exist. Yet, attempts at resolving conflicts fisheries co-operatives became lending through cross-sectoral collaboration, institutions with a diversity of credit with the participation of all relevant schemes, lending money not only to stakeholders, are hard to find. acquire fishing equipment, but also to The recently developed Voluntary meet consumption needs and insurance Guidelines for Securing Small-scale needs (through instant loan schemes). Fisheries in the Context of Food The well-functioning co-operatives, Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF in this respect, were even elevated to Guidelines) provide a good starting the status of Fisheries Banks ('Idiwara point, with their emphasis on holistic, Banks'). inclusive, participatory and integrated The restructured primary fisheries approaches to fisheries management. 15 co-operatives that were born in 1972 had assumed a large array of functions to improve welfare facilities for the fishing populations. They were totally Recent studies in south Sri Lanka provide evidence welfare-centric, with hardly any of the very strong position enjoyed by the fisheries concern for resource management. cooperatives... Note should also be made of two important principles of the peasants in rural Sri Lanka – the principle of equality and the right to subsistence. All Recent studies in south Sri Lanka who are born in the village have a right provide evidence of the very strong to live and, should enjoy equal rights position enjoyed by the fisheries co- of access to resources. The fisheries operatives in comparison to other co-operatives, as true community community organizations in the coastal organizations, are expected to abide by zone, with respect to the provision these principles of the peasantry. Thus, of livelihood capitals, transparency even when the current fishing pressure and accountability of operations, and is high, they are forced to assist whoever willingness and capacity to adopt some wants to fish. Although this weakness of the key SSF Guidelines. is understood by co-operatives, they are not in a position to introduce entry Leadership role controls, which will challenge the very It is also interesting to note that basis of the establishment of fisheries all non-fisheries stakeholders in the co-operatives. coastal zone believe that fisheries co- Given that fisheries co-operatives operatives could take the leadership command a high degree of confidence in making decisions concerning the and faith among the membership as management of resources in the coastal their true representatives, the fisheries zone. Evidently, due to the diverse tasks co-operative format could be made and uncertainties inherent in fishing – use of in introducing measures that seasonality, high incidence of damage will also ensure a healthy ecosystem, to, and loss of, craft and gear and fishing with appropriate restructuring to days, need for supplementary income, achieve these ends. But fisheries form etc. – fisheries co-operatives have risen

AUGUST 2018 Sri Lanka

up to provide a host of services to the participation of all stakeholders in membership, including the provision of designated fisheries management livelihood capital, which is not the case areas in a number of districts. The with other community institutions like process has been facilitated by funds the agricultural co-operatives or rural provided by international donors. But development societies. these committees became defunct after Moreover, through the experience some time for a number of reasons: they have gained in managing fisheries withdrawal of foreign assistance; co-operatives to provide the above absence of a leader organization to services to the membership, the co- work towards achieving the goals of operative leaders have become very co-management; and the apathy of strong and powerful individuals in the state authorities to continue with making decisions concerning coastal the process. In this whole process, resource use. Yet, the latter necessitates the fisheries co-operatives have been that fisheries co-operatives function relegated to the background because as true interactive management of the government’s lack of interest platforms, with the participation of all in empowering them. On the other relevant stakeholders. Such a change hand, the RFOs remained outside the requires the incorporation of concerns mainstream of activities because they of resource management into the commanded no faith or trust among constitution of fisheries co-operatives, people, and did not enjoy a dominant assuming the role of a cross-sectoral status among diverse stakeholders in collaborative body to perform the the coastal zone. required management functions. The focus group discussions Entry into coastal fisheries is now held recently revealed that the whole process of integrated coastal 16 made fairly difficult by the recent state zone management (ICZM) could be organized under the leadership of the fisheries co-operatives, which ...fisheries co-operatives have risen up to provide a host could function as co-management of services to the membership, including the provision of platforms with the participation of all livelihood capital... coastal resource users, state actors, civil society organizations (CSOs) and other parties, including women and marginalized groups. The mere regulations banning the construction formation of such platforms itself will of small fibreglass boats, which are not resolve management issues, unless the mainstay of coastal fishing in Sri the management process is made Lanka. Following this ban, some co- integrated, inclusive, participatory operatives, like the Godawaya Fisheries and holistic. This requires, among Co-operative in Hambantota district, other things, the government’s will to have already taken steps to set limits recognize the important role played by on all types of coastal craft operating fisheries co-operatives as a dominant in its landing site. The co-operative is actor in the coastal zone, the will also controlling the entry of tourists to empower them and abolish the into the Godawaya beach, fearing that dormant RFOs. A change of this nature tourism would have adverse influences will not only put under way a strong on the youth, culture and traditions of process of ICZM, but also introduce a the village. mechanism to resolve conflicts among On the one hand, the Fisheries coastal resource users. and Aquatic Resources Act of 1996, provides for the establishment of Fisheries Management Areas and Fisheries Committees within such For more areas, which are entrusted with http://www.coop.gov.lk/web/images/ management decisionmaking. In fact, acts/1972-5/1972_05_E.pdf the MFARD has started establishing Co-operative Societies Law No. 5 co-management platforms for of 1972 export-oriented fisheries, with the

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Human Rights Slavery Don't Jump Ship

The Seafood Slavery Risk Tool helps inform businesses about abuses of labour and human rights in their seafood supply chains

yint Naing, held captive instead of individual fisheries. A new for 22 years after being risk assessment tool was needed – one Mtrafficked onto Thai fishing based on credible, public information boats, never thought he would see his and a clear and robust methodology – family in Myanmar again. Joshua, and that informs due diligence and spurs three other Filipinos, escaped from a remedial and transformative action. United Kingdom scallop dredger after After two years of hard work and enduring violence and death threats extensive consultation with business to keep them working up to 22 hours a and human-rights experts, a coalition day. But another Filipino, Eril Andrade, comprising Seafood Watch, SFP did not survive his enslavement on a and Liberty Global/Liberty Asia, a Taiwanese tuna longliner. Neither did Hong Kong-based NGO working to Supriyanto, an Indonesian trafficking prevent human trafficking through 17 and forced-labour victim, who also died legal advocacy and technological on a Taiwanese longline vessel. These men’s stories, and those of others, including the thousands we will never hear, are why the Seafood Slavery Risk It soon became clear that it would be no easy task to Tool exists. gauge the risk of forced labour, human trafficking, or Until a few years ago, the labour- hazardous child labour in seafood supply chains. and human-rights abuses in the notoriously opaque global fishing industry had remained largely invisible to the outside world. But a series of interventions, launched the Seafood high-profile investigations reported by Slavery Risk Tool in February 2018. the Associated Press (AP), The Guardian Following a rigorous decision- and The New York Times in 2015 and tree-based methodology, the Risk 2016 created a heightened awareness, Tool assesses if there’s a Critical, High, leading the business partners of Moderate, or Low Risk of forced labour, the California-based Monterey Bay human trafficking, or hazardous Aquarium Seafood Watch programme child labour in the wild-capture stage (Seafood Watch) and the environmental of a fishery. To do so, first, analysts non-governmental organization (NGO), document any publicly available Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), evidence in the profile fishery. If in Hawaii, to seek out information on evidence is found and deemed credible – how to identify affected fisheries and gathered from reports and publications help drive positive change. by authoritative institutions, including It soon became clear that it would be media, governments, academia and no easy task to gauge the risk of forced civil society – the fishery is assessed as labour, human trafficking, or hazardous Critical Risk, period. child labour in seafood supply chains. Reliable, publicly available resources Methodology for this purpose simply did not exist. If there is no evidence in the fishery, This article is by the Seafood Slavery The available studies and tools tend the Risk Tool team then looks for Risk Tool Analyst Team (http://www. to focus on whole sectors or countries, any evidence in the country’s other seafoodslaveryrisk.org)

AUGUST 2018 Human Rights

Slavery in Seafood Slavery in Fishing Meet Country / Slavery in Fishery? N N N Processing / N Industry in Country State criteria? MODERATE Agriculture / Forestry?

Y Y N Y Y

CRITICAL Slavery in related LOW HIGH Fishery?

Y

Meet Country / State criteria? N HIGH

Y

Slavery in Seafood Processing / Agriculture / N MODERATE Forestry?

Y

HIGH

The path a profile fishery follows depends on the evidence in fisheries, the country criteria evaluation and, if relevant, evidence in related or similar renewable 18 resource industries

fisheries. Where evidence is found, by the fishing industry on labour issues, it is categorized as either related or though evidence from governmental, unrelated to the profile fishery (that media and civil society organizations is is, similar species, gear type, and/ mounting. or location) or as unspecified, if the In certain circumstances, evidence nature of the fishery is not reported. of forced labour, human trafficking and The absence of evidence does not hazardous child labour in a country’s automatically equate to Low Risk. The related or similar renewable resource Risk Tool’s decision tree also treats industries – seafood processing, evidence in unspecified fisheries the forestry, agriculture and aquaculture – same as related fisheries because the may be examined as indicators of high former’s relation to the profile fishery or moderate risk in the profile fishery. is unknown. For example, in situations where there Next, Risk Tool analysts evaluate is no evidence in fisheries and country the relevant legislative framework criteria have not been met, evidence and enforcement effectiveness of the in one or more of the above industries country responsible for regulating indicates a high risk for the profile the fishery or where the product is fishery. landed, whichever is most appropriate. Finally, all assessments are This portion of the assessment – carefully reviewed by external experts called the country criteria – does not who are asked, among other things, to result in a country rating. Rather, the judge the credibility and validity of the findings inform the assessment by sources. providing greater context about the risk environment within which the Due diligence fishery operates. This precautionary The Risk Tool is intended to inform due approach is needed because labour diligence by companies, by highlighting conditions in the fishing industry are where risks may be most significant. often not well documented. Indeed, It is important to note that the Tool Risk Tool analysts have thus far found provides contextual information for a glaring lack of information published particular fisheries, but cannot replace

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Slavery robust supply-chain management by stakeholders, including those whose businesses. livelihoods depend on the fishery. As illustrated by the Risk Tool’s Lastly, businesses should document conceptual model (see diagram), there their efforts, evaluate their impacts, are multiple paths to High, Moderate and share lessons learned so that others and Low Risk. The path a profile fishery can avoid similar mistakes, and good follows depends on the evidence practices can be replicated. To fully in fisheries, the country criteria address these human-rights issues, the evaluation and, if relevant, evidence in seafood industry also needs to become related or similar renewable resource more transparent. There are many industries. organizations and resources available If a fishery is assessed as Critical or for assessing, preventing or correcting High Risk, it does not necessarily mean human- and labour-rights abuse, some that forced labour, human trafficking or hazardous child labour is pervasive in the fishery. Also, if a risk exists in one fishery, it does not necessarily mean a country’s other fisheries are likely to The Risk Tool recommends engaging and supporting have the same risk. improvement efforts... The Risk Tool coalition does not advocate for a “Do Not Buy” approach when a fishery is assessed as Critical or High Risk. Indeed, quite the opposite reaction should happen. The Risk Tool of which are listed on the Risk Tool recommends engaging and supporting website for informational purposes. improvement efforts because there is Myint Naing was freed and went 19 a real danger that jumping ship could home to Myanmar, thanks to the drive the problem further underground, dogged AP reporters who tracked him placing affected fishermen or children and more than 2,000 other victims at even greater risk of abuse. to an island in Indonesia. Joshua and In addition, disengaging from his Filipino crew mates were able to fisheries with human and labour go home too, but Joshua later learned rights issues will ultimately lead to that his family never received a penny a landscape where ethically minded for his work on the scallop dredger. and law-abiding firms compete in The road to sustainable, socially For more an increasingly uneven playing field responsible fisheries that provide safe with unscrupulous businesses that are and secure livelihoods is long. It will http://www.seafoodslaveryrisk.org/ willing to purchase seafood caught by take multiple stakeholders, working Seafood Slavery Risk Tool slaves or children. The industry’s lack together, to change the global fishing http://www.seafoodwatch.org/ of transparency about its risks and industry’s labour practices. When the Seafood Watch challenges also encourages this kind of risks remain unknown, the lives, health competitive business environment. and safety of thousands of men, women https://www.sustainablefish.org/ Sustainable Fisheries Partnership The coalition thus advocates and children around the world are also the identification of source fisheries at risk. https://www.icsf.net/en/proceedings/ and their assessment for social and article/EN/139-933-Summary.html environmental risks, using the Seafood Report of the Proceedings Slavery Risk Tool and other resources. Enhancing Capacities of Fishing Communities: ICSF-BOBLME In tandem with environmental sourcing Sub-regional Dialogue on policies, companies should create a Labour, Migration and Fisheries Human Rights Policy that all suppliers Management, 11 to 13 December must follow. 2013, Thailand If forced labour, human https://www.icsf.net/en/samudra/detail/ trafficking or hazardous child labour EN/3893.html is discovered in the supply chain, the Forced into Slavery Risk Tool coalition advises creating and implementing a Corrective https://www.icsf.net/en/samudra/detail/ EN/4161.html Action Plan with the help of on-the- Better Fishing, Better Living ground organizations and other key

AUGUST 2018 Report Workshop

Building Back Better

A workshop on Cyclone Ockhi, which swept through parts of south India, discussed ways to make coastal fishing communities more resilient to natural disasters

n 29 November 2017, a deep in the Context of Food Security and depression, detected in the Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). OIndian Ocean southwest of On 29 and 30 May 2018, ICSF Sri Lanka, rapidly intensified into a organized a national workshop, cyclonic storm off the coast of Tamil with the support of FAO, to share Nadu and Kerala and the Union the findings of the study with the Territory of Lakshadweep Islands in community, government agencies at India. Cyclone Ockhi, as it was named, all levels and other stakeholders, and took the life of over 350 people – nearly to take their feedback. The workshop all fishers from the southern states of was also meant to examine the impacts Tamil Nadu and Kerala – injured many of Cyclone Ockhi on the marine fishing 20 others and damaged fishing vessels community, especially from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The workshop, on “Small- scale Fisheries, Cyclone Ockhi and Disaster Risk Management”, was held The workshop was also meant to examine the impacts at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. of Cyclone Ockhi on the marine fishing community, Participants at the workshop especially from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. included fishworker organizations, government and multilateral agencies, academics, non-governmental and civil society organizations, as well and gear. Unlike previous cyclones, as members of the disaster affected Ockhi’s impact was felt almost entirely fishing communities, who had been at sea. interviewed for ICSF’s study. The Supported by the Food and workshop was contextualised in light Agriculture Organization of the of the SSF Guidelines and the United United Nations (FAO), the International Nations International Strategy for Collective in Support of Fishworkers Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), focusing (ICSF) Trust conducted a study on on the organization, planning and the impacts of the cyclone on small- application of measures preparing for, scale fisheries and the policies and responding to, and recovering from, plans in place to manage disasters sudden-onset disasters. Concepts and disaster risks, at all levels. The like 'relief-development continuum' study employed a human-rights-based and 'build back better' to strengthen approach to evaluate vulnerabilities, resilience of small-scale fishing specifically of small-scale fishermen, communities, including women and and recommended improvements in vulnerable and marginalized groups, safety of fishers; communication and were to be considered. collaboration between agencies and governments; and the integration Introductory remarks of disaster-risk management and The workshop opened with This article is by Ahana lakshmi fisheries management, in line with introductory remarks by P H Kurian, ([email protected]), Independent the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue Researcher, Chennai, India Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries and Disaster Management, Government

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Workshop

ICSF

Fishers catch a light moment before setting out to sea in Marianad, Kerala, India. The collection of information on fishing activity, particularly in the small-scale sector, is a challenge because most fishers directly leave from their villages each day, and not from harbours of Kerala. A message from Shyam disaster-risk management that emerged Khadka, FAO representative in India, in the context of Ockhi: early warning 21 was presented by C M Muralidharan, systems and the communication of Consultant on Fisheries for FAO. Yugraj warnings; institutional collaboration Singh Yadava, Director of the Bay of and the role of various agencies; sea Bengal Programme Inter Governmental safety and fisheries management; Organization (BOBP-IGO), Anthony and climate-change impacts on the Adimai, Chairman, South Indian environment and fishers’ livelihoods. Federation of Fishermen Societies In the first panel, fishermen and (SIFFS), and John Kurien, Managing fisherwomen from the Ockhi-affected Trustee, ICSF Trust, spoke briefly. They villages shared their experiences of the drew from their diverse experience in fisheries and disaster management to highlight the importance of sea safety, It emerged that the nearshore fishers in Kerala could collaboration between institutions and have been saved had the initial weather advisories of the community, and the need for timely the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reached the warnings to fishers on cyclones and other natural disasters. P H Kurian said coastal villages in time. that because cyclone activity was so rare on the southern Arabian Sea coast of India, everyone was focused on the disaster. The speakers, representing storm’s landfall. But Ockhi’s impact at both the nearshore short-haul sea was an eye-opener, which would fishing operations and the long-haul definitely be a lesson while going mechanized fishing vessels, described forward. the socioeconomic and psychological The opening session was followed impacts of the cyclone, not only on the by the presentation of ICSF’s study, men but also the women and families Cyclone Ockhi: Disaster Risk in the community. It emerged that the Management and Sea Safety in the nearshore fishers in Kerala could have Marine Fisheries Sector, by Manas been saved had the initial weather Roshan, an independent researcher advisories of the Indian Meteorological and consultant with ICSF Trust. The Department (IMD) reached the coastal sessions and group discussions over the villages in time. It was pointed out two days explored various aspects of that although the government had

AUGUST 2018 Report

Saving Lives, Protecting Livelihoods National Workshop on Small-scale Fisheries, Cyclone Ockhi and Disaster Risk Management Thiruvananthapuram, India 29 and 30 May 2018 STATEMENT e, participants at the National Workshop on Small-scale Fisheries, Cyclone Ockhi and Disaster Risk WManagement, held in Thiruvananthapurm, India, on 29th and 30th May 2018; Concerned that Cyclone Ockhi brought unprecedented fatalities to fishers, including migrant fishers, all along the entire range of their fishing operations, both in inshore and offshore waters; Further concerned about the impact of Cyclone Ockhi on the women and children of the affected families of fishers; Mindful that natural disasters have differential impacts and therefore need a differentiated approach at all levels; Recognizing the need for a national perspective, legal and policy framework that integrate on-land and at-sea disaster management and disaster risk management; Fearing that climate change impacts can enhance the intensity of cyclones in future in the Arabian Sea, in 22 addition to the Bay of Bengal, and would have disastrous consequences for coastal communities and fishing communities; Being aware that better disaster management and disaster risk management can contribute to mitigating new disaster risk and associated economic, environmental and social consequences; Recognizing that the quality and success of disaster management and disaster risk management can be greatly enhanced through consultation and participation, applying a human rights-based approach within the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction 2015-2030, and the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (the SSF Guidelines); Further recognizing that coastal fishing communities often have their own mechanisms, processes and institutions relevant for disaster preparedness that can effectively complement governance mechanisms under the jurisdiction of the State; and Taking note of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 1.5 “[B]y 2030 build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters”, Recommend the following measures to the appropriate authorities at various levels and other relevant stakeholders: I. disaster management authorities 1. reduce the number of deaths and number of people affected, including migrant fishers, and reduce the direct economic losses caused by disasters; 2. integrate fishers’ knowledge into search and rescue operations at sea at all levels; 3. ensure that emergency relief and rehabilitation measures are expeditiously delivered without further aggravating economic, social and psychological distress of affected families; 4. take care that relief and rehabilitation measures in a post-disaster scenario are proportional to the needs of affected men and women in fishing and post-harvest activities, including of those directly and indirectly affected; 5. safeguard maternal health and education for children of affected families; 6. develop, in consultation with fishing communities, appropriate mechanisms for disaster relief and rehabilitation in the fisheries sector and apply standardized protocols to promote coordination and cooperation at all levels;

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Workshop

7. Build and strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity of small-scale fishing communities and reduce their vulnerability to natural disasters; 8. make adequate budget provisions to support disaster risk management at all levels; 9. ensure that disaster management and disaster risk management measures applicable to the fishing sector are informed by reliable information regarding fishing fleets, fishing gear and fishing operations in cooperation with the relevant fisheries departments and the Coast Guard; 10. develop baseline information on marine and coastal habitats (natural reefs, coral reefs, sandy beaches, etc.) to assess damages to these habitats and dependent species from natural and manmade disasters consistent with Article 7 (adaptation) and Article 8 (addressing loss and damage) of the 2015 Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); 11. promote public awareness about natural disasters like cyclones, among other means, through school curricula reforms, school clubs and through ocean literacy programmes; 12. strengthen the capacity of local self-governments to enhance community participation in disaster risk reduction; II. early warning and prediction authorities 13. improve accuracy of cyclone prediction and efficiency of its dissemination among coastal fishing communities, and among nearshore and offshore fishers; 14. develop innovative new approaches (e.g. earmarking 'dynamic cones of uncertainty’ as potential cyclone zones) for cyclone prediction, along with multichannel communication, to rapidly disseminate cyclone alerts to local communities (community radio, VHF, HF, satellite phones, etc.); 15. integrate safety of fishing vessels, vessel navigation and operations as well as occupational safety of fishers into disaster risk reduction protocols to reduce the number of fishers losing their life during cyclones, including through the provision of financial incentives; 23 III. Fisheries authorities 16. recognize the role and responsibilities of the fisheries authorities in monitoring fishing activity and safeguarding sea safety and ensure them an active role, along with other agencies, in search and rescue operations as well as in relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery efforts; in this context, coastal state/union territory fisheries authorities and the fisheries department at the centre should collaborate; 17. provide effective and appropriate communication equipment to all fishers and registered fishing vessels at sea; 18. develop awareness of small-scale fishing communities and provide training about adoption of effective sea safety procedures including use and maintenance of communication equipment; 19. enforce sea safety norms and integrate sea safety into fisheries management and governance for short- haul and long-haul fishers, consistent with the recommendations of the SSF Guidelines, employing the “relief-development continuum” and “build back better” principles and a human rights-based approach; 20. Build capacity, including through pre-sea training, to deal with fishing in rough sea conditions and working for excessive periods of time, after an assessment of the risks concerned; IV. Fishing communities 21. improve the efficiency of cyclone alerts dissemination among coastal fishing communities, and among nearshore and offshore fishers, using the most cost-effective means of communication (e.g. community radio); 22. encourage traditional and local knowledge and use of traditional protocols to predict disasters and to reduce disaster risks, and to promote community-based disaster risk management planning; 23. strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations, including women’s organizations, to deal with disaster risk management, particularly at the local level; 24. propose ‘green zones’ under coastal disaster preparedness programmes to reduce the vulnerability of small-scale fishing communities to sudden-onset cyclones; and 25. integrate sea safety into community-based initiatives for fisheries development and management. in conclusion, building resilience to natural disasters and climate change of coastal communities requires coordination at all levels and open consultation with, and participation of, all stakeholders. This includes an awareness of the responsibilities of the community in ensuring an overall culture of safety at sea and on land.

AUGUST 2018 Report

initiated projects to distribute warning three agencies crucial to the disaster- and distress-alert devices for fishers, management sequence in Kerala: voice communication was prized by the State Disaster Management the community. The women described Authority, the Indian Coast Guard the hardships of the families of dead and the Department of Fisheries. S. and missing fishers, whose livelihood Venkatesapathy, Director of Fisheries, needs had not been addressed, despite Government of Kerala, stressed the the generous compensation paid by the importance of boat registration and government. data on the movement of fishers The second panel on “Disaster and fishing vessels. He said that the preparedness at sea: ensuring credible collection of information on fishing early warning and better prediction activity, particularly in the small-scale of cyclones” dealt with the technology sector, was a challenge because most options available with meteorologists fishers left directly from their villages and disaster managers. S Balachandran, each day, and not from harbours. Director of the Chennai IMD Area V K Varghese, Commanding Cyclone Warning Centre, explained Officer, Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the analytical models employed by the Thiruvananthapuram, presented IMD for cyclone prediction. Pointing videos of search and rescue (SAR) out that Cyclone Ockhi was unique, operations to describe the challenges both in its rapid intensification in the faced by rescue forces during the Comorin Sea and its unusual track cyclone. Responding to the affected along the Arabian Sea, he said that community’s grievances concerning climate change had increased the the operations, Varghese clarified that the ICG protocol allowed it to 24 even cross international boundaries ...fishing had always been considered an unsafe for SAR. Shekhar L Kuriakose, Head, occupation, but the dare-devilry of fishers had to be State Emergency Operations Centre, Government of Kerala, said that, post- complemented with safety precautions and reliable Ockhi, the government had decided equipment, gear and vessels. to change its warning protocol so that even ‘depression’ warnings by the IMD would now completely halt all fishing probability of such severe cyclones in operations in particular areas. this basin. Recognizing that fishers The fourth panel on “Integrating need warnings specific to their fishing sea safety into fisheries management times and geographical zones, and the and governance” addressed issues of limitations of most warning systems, sea safety; the working conditions Balachandran recommended the use of of fishers; boat manufacturing and innovative means like dynamic cones design; and the need for monitoring, of uncertainty in the IMD bulletins. control and surveillance measures in Abhilash S, Assistant Professor the Indian marine fishing sector. It was at the Department of Atmospheric pointed out that fishing had always Sciences, Cochin University of been considered an unsafe occupation, Science and Technology, spoke about but the dare-devilry of fishers had to be the need for coupled atmospheric- complemented with safety precautions ocean models for cyclone prediction. and reliable equipment, gear and Sajan Venniyoor, a community radio vessels. This required consultations consultant, said that the use of multiple with, and the active participation of, low-cost technology and media the fishing community. channels, including community radio and television, was essential to put the Final panel community at the centre of effective The final panel was on “Building back communication strategies. better, keeping nature and people in The third panel on “Improving mind.” C M Muralidharan, Fisheries institutional co-ordination and Consultant with the FAO, said that collaboration in disaster response and rehabilitation and reconstruction relief” consisted of presentations by should aim at long-term sustainable

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Workshop

MANAS ROSHAN / ICSF

25

Vallavilai fishing village, Tamil Nadu, India. During discussions in the first panel of the workshop, fishermen and fisherwomen from the Ockhi-affected villages shared their experiences of the disaster development, integrating fisheries towards disaster preparedness and livelihoods, fisheries management disaster-risk management to build and disaster preparedness. T Peter, the resilience of coastal communities Secretary of the National Fishworkers’ to cyclones, natural disasters and For more Forum, said that traditional knowledge climate change, stressing on the need https://www.icsf.net/en/monographs/ and scientific knowledge should be for co-ordination at all levels and open article/EN/165-cyclone-ockhi--. integrated to make coastal fishing consultation with, and participation html?limitstart=0 communities resilient to disasters. It of, fishing communities, applying a Cyclone Ockhi: Disaster Risk was also pointed out that Ockhi had human-rights-based approach within Management and Sea Safety in the caused unprecedented changes in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Indian Marine Fisheries Sector the marine ecosystem, which had not Reduction 2015-2030 and the SSF https://www.icsf.net/en/proceedings/ been studied. In this context, strong Guidelines. article/EN/164-report-of-the-n. measures had to be taken for the html?limitstart=0 protection of the coast, including ocean Report of the National Workshop on literacy programmes; mapping of Small-scale Fisheries, Cyclone Ockhi fragile reefs and biodiversity hotspots; and Disaster Risk Management 29 and the preservation of traditional to 30 May, 2018, Kerala, India knowledge about local ecology and https://www.icsf.net/en/samudra/article/ sustainable fishing practices. EN/78-4347-Comment.html Four group discussions at the end On Land, at Sea, Lives Matter of Day One dealt with several issues https://www.icsf.net/en/samudra/article/ raised in the panel discussions, adding EN/78-4324-In-the-Eye-of-t.html a community and multi-stakeholder Natural Hazards: In the Eye of the perspective. The group presentations Storm on the second day evoked lively https://www.icsf.net/en/samudra/article/ discussions which enriched the EN/78-4325-A-Stitch-in-Tim.html Workshop Statement (see Box). It Cyclone Ockhi: A Stitch in Time made several recommendations

AUGUST 2018 Report IFISH5

Connecting the Dots

The largest conference on occupational safety and health in the fishing industry returns after a gap of nine years

n June this year, the city of St. Health (NIOSH), the SafetyNet Centre John’s in Newfoundland and for Occupational Health and Safety ILabrador, Canada, played host Research, Memorial University, and the to the largest gathering of fishing, Food and Agriculture Organization of aquaculture and seafood-processing the United Nations (FAO). Other donors safety and health professionals: the included Fishing Partnership Support Fifth International Fishing Industry Services, Ocean Frontier Institute and Safety and Health Conference (IFISH Workplace NL. 5), the only conference dedicated to A three-member conference improving safety and health in the planning committee, consisting of 26 fishing industry. Jennifer Lincoln of NIOSH, Barbara Neis of SafetyNet, Julie Sorensen of the Northeast Center for Occupational ...the Fifth International Fishing Industry Safety and Health and Safety, was in charge of Health Conference (IFISH 5), the only conference planning and curating the conference. dedicated to improving safety and health in the fishing The three members were also part of industry. a larger expert scientific committee, which included leading figures in the fields of occupational health and safety, representing a wide range Held from 10 to 13 June 2018 in of stakeholder interests, including the picturesque campus of St. John’s research, academics, fishers and Memorial University, and blessed – community organizations, who were contrary to gloomy weather forecasts responsible, among other things, for – by a few days of unexpected sunshine approving abstracts from the hundreds between rainy ones, IFISH 5 explored of submissions received. the latest research on occupational Proceedings began with a pre- safety and health; discussed current conference workshop on Sunday, 10 fisheries policy and regulations; and June, a day before the official start showcased best practices for keeping of the conference, which explored workers safe and healthy. recent global initiatives related to Earlier editions of the conference fishing vessel design, fishing safety, were held in Woods Hole, sustainable fishing practices and Massachusetts, United States (US) fisheries management, and their in 2000; Sitka, Alaska, in 2003; relationship to safety and working Mahabalipuram, India, in 2006; and conditions in fisheries from different Reykjavik, Iceland, in 2009. The regions of the world. present conference was taking place after a long gap of nine years. Presentations The conference was sponsored Brief presentations were made by This article is by Nilanjana Biswas by the Center for Maritime Safety Brandt Wagner of the International ([email protected]), Independent and Health Studies at the National Labour Organization (ILO), Sandra Researcher, Bengaluru, India Institute for Occupational Safety and Allnutt of the International Maritime

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 IFISH5

Organization (IMO) and Raymon onto lunch and tea breaks. Keynote VanAnrooy and Ari Gudmundsson addresses by distinguished speakers of FAO. Their presentations covered marked the start of all three days and a wide range of instruments, tools, also the closure of the first day of the agreements and guidelines which conference. mark milestones in safety and health These keynote addresses were in the fisheries sector, such as the ILO organized in ways that suggested careful Work in Fishing Convention, 2007; planning, and allowed participants to the completion of the FAO/ILO/IMO connect the dots, for example, between Safety Recommendations for Decked the local and the global or an individual Fishing Vessels of Less than 12 metres story and a universal one. They in Length and Undecked Fishing receive special emphasis in this article Vessels in 2010 and the FAO/ILO/ because they appeared to lay the tone IMO Implementation Guidelines in for the rest of the conference, where 2011; and the Cape Town Agreement presentations ranged from local case on the safety of fishing vessels in 2012, studies to global research and policy amongst others. These were followed around occupational safety and health by presentations based on field in fisheries. experiences with these instruments Day Two started with two keynotes and agreements, which highlighted addresses that, between them, raised the wide divergence of issues and a comprehensive spectrum of issues. challenges in their implementation Jennifer Lincoln’s talk on “What I’ve between developed and developing learnt about safety from listening to countries. fishermen” focused on trauma and The afternoon session of the pre- conference workshop began with 27 a presentation by Jennifer Lincoln of NIOSH on the results of an FAO ...the role of women in fisheries, and particular issues initiative she had worked on. Several related to their occupational health, remained, as is often interesting points of critique were the case, relatively eclipsed. raised in the sub-group discussions that followed this presentation, highlighting the adverse effects of quota-based management systems on injury among US seamen, and Sandra fishers’ livelihoods and ecosystems; Allnutt’s addressed global fisheries issues related to vessel stability; the regulation, in the light of the Cape need to include fishers at the very start Town Agreement of 2012 and its role of fisheries decision-making processes; in improving fishing vessels' safety. the need to collect occupational That afternoon, the address by the safety and health data in industrial internationally acclaimed occupational seafood processing where women medicine specialist, Mohamed are widely employed, and so on. This Jeebhay, offered a developing-country was followed by panel presentations perspective on occupational health and covering various aspects of recent safety based on South Africa’s seafood research on fisheries management and industry. The next speaker, Ingunn fishing safety. Marie Holmen of SINTEF, a technology The formal conference was and applied research organization, held over the next three days with offered a contrasting view from the presentations organized around developed world in her talk on health four themes – developments in and safety measures in the Norwegian fishing, occupational health and fishing fleet. safety concerns, seafood processing and aquaculture, and worker safety Contrast, continuity interventions and training – running The keynote addresses on Day Three concurrently in parallel sessions. The offered similar pictures of contrast as parallel sessions covered 60 hours well as continuity. Regional issues in of presentations and discussions in a occupational health in aquaculture packed schedule, which often spilt out were explored by Robert Durborow

AUGUST 2018 Report

of Kentucky State University, who, health and safety surveillance; presenting on behalf of keynote speaker risk analysis and tested prevention Melvin Myers, a leading public health solutions for crews and their boats; and specialist, covered research on safety changing commercial fishing personal and health among seafood harvesters flotation use behaviour. in the Gulf of Mexico. Next, global The third sub-theme was issues in aquaculture occupational “Aquaculture/Seafood processing/ health and safety were addressed by Quick Takes”. The presentations under Andrew Watterson of the University this theme covered the following topics: of Stirling, who presented key findings regional approaches to aquaculture from an FAO-funded scoping study on and seafood processing; seafood global aquaculture. processing, hazards and interventions; The keynote addresses on Day safety and health in aquaculture; Four, the last day of the conference, exposure assessment and health effects were a journey from the personal to of seafood bioaerosols in the fishing the political. Writer Jim Wellman, and seafood-processing industries; known for his popular column Final and safer, healthier work places in Voyages, talked about the devastation aquaculture. The ‘Quick Takes’ under that follows when “people go to sea this theme consisted of short talks on a and don’t come home”. Next, Christina variety of topics. Stringer of the University of Auckland, Presentations under the fourth gave a searing report on slavery in New theme, “Worker safety interventions Zealand’s offshore fisheries, which and training,” covered medicine at sea; was also an account, albeit under very fishing safety; utilizing an industry- different circumstances, of people who led integrated approach to advancing 28 go to sea and often do not return. safety and reducing injuries, illness and fatalities in commercial fishing; prevention of chronic injury and ...participants were taken on a field trip to the illness; health and safety interventions; Offshore Safety and Survival Centre, Foxtrap, at the evaluation of fishing-safety Marine Institute, where they were treated to exciting interventions; and workplace injuries. demonstrations of noise and vibration simulation There was also a session on safety and techniques and fire extinguishment drills. survival training in New England. The conference presentations were complemented with a poster Presentations under the first of exhibition, imaginatively showcasing the four overarching themes, “New research and technology innovations Horizons in Fishing”, were organized in occupational health and safety under the following sub-themes: in fishing and aquaculture. On Day weather and fishing safety; effects of Three, participants were taken on a fisheries management measures on field trip to the Offshore Safety and risk-taking and safety in commercial Survival Centre, Foxtrap, at the Marine fishing; policy and regulation; obstacles Institute, where they were treated to to performing occupational safety and exciting demonstrations of noise and health research in commercial fishing; vibration simulation techniques and the need for a public-health programme fire extinguishment drills. In addition, in commercial fishing; latent and active a social event was organized that causes of vessel losses; and a session on evening, which provided a welcome health and safety, education, and social break from conference proceedings for contract with collective financing in the networking and informal exchange. Danish fishery. Under the second theme, “Health Perspectives and Safety – A Changing Landscape”, A post-conference workshop on presentations explored topics such as national and international perspectives understanding and tracking injuries in in global aquaculture occupational the fishing sector; regional approaches health and safety marked the end of to commercial fishing safety; the proceedings. The workshop opened commercial fishing and processing with a series of short presentations of

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 IFISH5

ANN BACKUS

IFISH5 delegates and their presentations explored the latest research on occupational safety and health, discussed current fisheries policy and regulations, and showcased best practices for keeping workers safe and healthy findings from an FAO-funded scan offer greater space to the small-scale of the global, regional and national fisheries of the developing world, with terrain of aquaculture/fish farming necessary attention to gender issues in occupational health and safety and occupational health and safety. related social and welfare impacts, and ended with small group discussions on future priorities for research and action in the field of aquaculture occupational health and safety. The conference was superbly 29 organized. No aspect – whether pre- conference communication and outreach or accommodation for the many participants or attention to administrative detail – was in any way lacking. The scope of the conference was ambitious and extensive, both geographically and in covering various aspects of work in the supply chain. For more This was made possible by having a large number of sessions running https://ifishconference.ca/ concurrently each day. Perhaps, the The Fifth International Fishing long gap of nine years between the last Industry Safety & Health Conference IFISH conference and this one meant (IFISH 5) that a large number of developments in https://www.ilo.org/public/english/ research, regulation and policy that had standards/relm/ilc/ilc96/pdf/rep-iv-2a.pdf accumulated in the interim, needed Report IV 2(A) Work in the fishing to be accommodated. However, as a sector result, one sometimes had the feeling https://www.icsf.net/en/proceedings/ that simply too much was going on article/EN/103-icsf-seminar-wo. and there was not enough time for html?limitstart=0 meaningful discussion. The condition of fishworkers on The large majority of the sessions distant-water fishing vessels: ICSF represented experiences of industrial seminar-workshop on the conditions fishing from developed countries, in of work on distant-water fishing vessels particular the US, Canada, Norway and a few other European countries. https://www.icsf.net/en/proceedings/ Further, the role of women in fisheries, article/EN/11-848-Preface.html and particular issues related to their Proceedings of the Indian Ocean occupational health, remained, as is Conference: Forging Unity: Coastal Communities and the Indian Ocean's often the case, relatively eclipsed. It is Future, India, 9 to 13 October 2001 hoped that future editions of IFISH will

AUGUST 2018 Review SSF Guidelines

The Spirit of Diversity

A review of The Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines: Global Implementation. Jentoft, S., Chuenpagdee, R., Barragán-Paladines, M.J., Franz, N. (Eds.)

eople, not profits, or even fish, small-scale fisheries and the wellbeing are the fundamental feature of associated fishing communities. In Pof artisanal and small-scale particular, the discussions highlight fisheries throughout the world. This the links between intergovernmental self-evident truth has for too long been agreements and policy documents, and absent in many policies dealing with the contexts and realities of artisanal fisheries or coastal management and fishing communities with unique goals development plans, to the detriment and aspirations. of not only people, but also ecosystems The Code of Conduct for and the economic viability of what are Responsible Fisheries (1995) of the critical industries at local and global Food and Agriculture Organization 30 scales. A shift towards a human- of the United Nations (FAO) and consolidation of the ecosystem approach to fisheries (2003) injected ...the discussions highlight the links between and cemented important principles– intergovernmental agreements and policy documents, and respectively, fundamental guidelines the contexts and realities of artisanal fishing communities for sustainability across governance with unique goals and aspirations. contexts, and the integration of ecological rather than single-species considerations–within global fisheries management. The endorsement of rights-based approach is thus required the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for to adequately address small-scale Securing Small-scale Fisheries in the fisheries, where states and other actors Context of Food Security and Poverty involved in fisheries do not only have Eradication (SSF Guidelines) could the responsibility to regulate activities, similarly prove to be a game changer but to ensure that fundamental human in creating solutions for the millions of rights to freedom, adequate food, women and men that make up the vast health and education are prioritized majority of fishery-dependent people within economic and environmental worldwide. However, true benefits management plans. from the SSF Guidelines will depend These central themes are echoed on the adequate implementation of throughout the book, The Small- the principles agreed within, and this Scale Fisheries Guidelines: Global is the vital issue addressed within this Implementation, an edited volume publication’s chapters. showcasing case studies of small-scale fisheries from around the world. Edited Community focus by Svein Jentoft, Ratana Chuenpagdee, Perhaps the greatest strength of this María José Barragán-Paladines and book is its focus on communities This article is by Andrés Cisneros- Nicole Franz, and including work and case studies with unique social, Montemayor ([email protected]. from almost 100 authors, this book is cultural, environmental and economic ca), Programme Manager of the Nippon an essential read for any academic, Foundation Nereus Programme, Institute for contexts from around the world, even the Oceans and Fisheries, University of British manager, or policymaker concerned as general themes are expanded on in Columbia, Vancouver, Canada with improving the performance of integrated discussions. This admirably

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 SSF Guidelines reflects the spirit of diversity contained to co-management efforts that actively within the SSF Guidelines, and small- strengthen community resource access scale fisheries. Chapters include cases and tenure in specific programmes that truly span the globe from South (for example, in marine protected Africa to Greenland, Japan to Mexico to areas in Spain, Costa Rica and the Europe, and islands in the Pacific to the Bahamas), or to help guide culturally Indian Ocean and to the Caribbean Sea appropriate policies to address specific – all with deeply nuanced discussions issues [for example, illegal, unreported captured by authors from similarly and unregulated fishing (IUU) in Lake diverse backgrounds. Victoria and Iran]. Governments whose Still, it is clear that there are existing legal systems already align overarching issues in small-scale with these principles are better able to fisheries, regardless of specific contexts. further implement them to the benefit Perhaps the most important challenge of community fisheries. Yet, even here for small-scale fishers, from which the crucial step is to create policies many others stem, is their relative lack that are coherent with the small-scale of power to participation in the policy- fishery contexts. making processes that directly affect them. From seemingly secure fishers in developed countries such as Canada, ...the SSF Guidelines provide an essential road map Japan, Norway and Sweden, to those for eliminating this disparity and for collaboratively facing poverty in Latin America, Asia and Africa, there is a pervasive sense developing policies that are appropriate to the needs of of marginalization from the more the small-scale fishing sector... ‘formal’ systems of more industrialized fisheries and corresponding regulatory 31 frameworks. In this sense, the SSF Throughout this push for Guidelines provide an essential road implementation of equitable policies, map for eliminating this disparity it is important to not consider the SSF and for collaboratively developing Guidelines in isolation, but rather to policies that are appropriate to the connect them with existing national needs of the small-scale fishing and international fisheries legislation sector, which are more likely to be and agreements that closely support, effectively implemented. Importantly, but may transcend, their scope. For as highlighted in multiple contexts indigenous fisheries, for example, throughout the book, this relationship the UN Declaration on the Rights of change can be effected jointly by Indigenous Peoples already provides various stakeholders, or spearheaded an in-depth view of the issues faced by fisher groups themselves when states by these particular communities, and lack the capacity or initial interest to solutions necessary to ensure their do so. Civil society organizations have rights. Similarly, the push for gender become key facilitators of this process, equality in fisheries is paramount, but particularly when, in cases like Mexico, its consideration is certainly not specific the Caribbean and Brazil, they expand to fisheries agreements or regulations. their focus from conservation advocacy More broadly, issues of food security, to sustainable livelihoods by improving state of the environment, human rights, governance, co-operation, and equity, and others, are comprised management capacity at multiple levels. within the 2015 UN General Assembly A very interesting progression in Resolution (A/RES/70/1) that includes shared benefits from implementing the the Sustainable Development Goals SSF Guidelines can be seen running (SDGs), which also refer to marine through the chapters from different resources for sustainable development countries. For example, an initial that specifically mention increased positive step in Senegal, Sri Lanka and benefits to developing nations and Caribbean nations is the recognition small-scale artisanal fishers. These, that the perspectives and knowledge and many other operational and The Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines: Global of fishing communities are valid and aspirational instruments, must be Implementation. Jentoft, S., Chuenpagdee, R., important. This can then be extended used in concert to hold responsible Barragán-Paladines, M.J., Franz, N. (Eds.)

AUGUST 2018 Review

parties accountable and to further the cultures that emerged within unique rights of small-scale fishers throughout landscapes and seascapes, from Arctic the world, no matter their political, fjords to tropical lakes and lagoons, environmental or economic context. and enrich our understanding of social- An issue that perhaps requires more ecological systems and our own place discussion is the power of language within the world. The SSF Guidelines in shifting perceptions about fishing may prove, as extensively showcased communities within policy debates. throughout the chapters of this book, For example, the now well-established to be the catalyst for a global attitude term 'small-scale fishery' can sometimes and policy shift to finally recognize work against arguments to increase the rights of fisherfolk throughout the their visibility among policymakers world, and ensure that their work and and their recognition within relevant ways of life are not only tolerated, but policies and regulations, particularly cherished. when policymakers are new to fisheries discussions and specific terms. 'Small- scale' can imply that the sector is less important, provides less economic benefits, or employs fewer people – all three of which are clearly false assumptions. It may be time to begin reassessing our own use of language, perhaps by using (when appropriate) terms such as 'artisanal', 'subsistence' or 'indigenous', instead of 'small-scale', 32 which convey the distinction from industrialized fisheries and to the need for a different management approach, while not implying a comparison of scale or importance. States by themselves may not be able to adequately address all issues embedded within small-scale fisheries, but they need not have to. There is a large and growing number of non-state actors, including civil society, industry For more groups, and intergovernmental institutions such as the FAO, the United https://www.springer.com/in/ Nations Development Programme or book/9783319550732 UNDP (including through its Equator The Small-Scale Fisheries Initiative highlighting sustainable Guidelines: Global Implementation community efforts), and others http://www.fao.org/fishery/ssf/guidelines/ engaged in achieving sustainable en and equitable fisheries policies that International Guidelines on Securing integrate human rights and strengthen Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries co-operation between various (SSF Guidelines) stakeholders. This support network http://toobigtoignore.net/ extends to academic efforts throughout Too Big to Ignore (TBTI) the world, including the Too Big To https://sites.google.com/site/ssfguidelines/ Ignore Project (TBTI), which works to Implementation of the Voluntary raise the profile of small-scale fisheries, Guidelines for Securing Sustainable including through the publication of Small-scale Fisheries in the context this essential book under review. of Food Security and Poverty Small-scale and artisanal fishers Eradication (SSF Guidelines) and workers across the world need not https://sites.google.com/site/ apologize for seeking to continue their smallscalefisheries/ traditional ways of life and livelihood. SSF Guidelines Their practices are intertwined with

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Human Rights Sustainable Oceans A Fishbowl Approach

An overview of the Danish Institute for Human Rights’ international expert meeting on the contribution of human rights to the sustainable development of fisheries

n September 2015, the United Bringing together diverse Nations General Assembly adopted representation from the Food and Iits resolution, “Transforming our Agriculture Organization of the United world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Nations (FAO), the International Labour Development,” for the overarching Organization (ILO), the Office of the goal of poverty eradication and the United Nations High Commissioner realization of the human rights of all. for Human Rights (OHCHR), as well as Of the 17 Goals and 169 targets – the from academia, civil society, industry Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and NHRIs, the meeting sought to – it set for the global community, the identify key human-rights impacts conservation and sustainable use of associated with fisheries, globally 33 the oceans, seas and marine resources and in the two project countries, and (Goal 14) has acquired renewed urgency, especially in light of the 2017 United Nations Ocean Conference, which highlighted both deteriorating ...a three-year project to document and address the marine resources and the range of human-rights implications of fisheries and aquaculture in human-rights issues pertinent to the Bangladesh and Chile. fisheries sector. In this context, the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), supported by the Swedish International to discuss strategies to address these Development Co-operation Agency at multi-stakeholder forums at the (Sida), has initiated a three-year national, regional and global levels. project to document and address The International Collective in Support the human-rights implications of Fishworkers (ICSF) was invited to of fisheries and aquaculture in the meeting to share its most recent Bangladesh and Chile. The work of work on disaster risk management and DIHR, an autonomous state-funded climate change, and their intersection institution, was previously oriented with small-scale fishing communities’ towards promoting human-rights right to a healthy environment. education, capacity building of The organizers applied the national human-rights institutions Chatham House rule to the entire (NHRIs) and strengthening the human- programme to provide anonymity to rights compliance of businesses in 15 speakers and to encourage openness countries worldwide. As an initial step during the discussions. Therefore, this towards realizing its objectives in the report will not reveal the identity or the project countries, DIHR organized an affiliation of any participants. international expert meeting, titled “The Contribution of Human Rights Topical presentations to the Sustainable Development of The introductory sessions on the This report is by Manas Roshan Fisheries,” held at the DIHR office in first day set the stage for topical ([email protected]), Programme Copenhagen from 19 to 20 June 2018. presentations by identifying key Officer, ICSF, Chennai, India

AUGUST 2018 Human Rights

international instruments, both Participants got a chance to delve universal covenants and sector-specific deeper into these issues in a cleverly adaptations of human-rights norms, designed session, consisting of such as the UN Convention on the Law presentations on three cross-cutting of the Sea, ILO Convention No. 188 and themes – gender and other vulnerable the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing groups; climate change, disaster Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the risk management and the marine Context of Food Security and Poverty environment; and labour issues – Eradication (the SSF Guidelines). followed by group discussions (led by Given DIHR’s experience with the the presenters) on the same themes. private sector, UN Guiding Principles The discussion points were then shared on Business and Human Rights were in the plenary, using the ‘fishbowl’ also identified as a useful resource to method, allowing diverse perspectives specify the roles and responsibilities of to emerge. businesses in the seafood value chain. The second and final day of the These instruments were then used meeting had two goals: to develop to plot a number of issues pertaining a human-rights perspective on to the right to food; the right to a responsible business in the fisheries healthy environment; indigenous sector; and to explore the issues peoples’ rights to lands, territories discussed over the two days through and resources; labour rights; and the the project countries, Bangladesh right to equality, non-discrimination, and Chile. On the business side, in the fisheries sector. Several participants were given an overview obstacles to the realization of these of platforms and initiatives that rights in fisheries were identified, engage the private sector in promoting 34 such as the extraterritorial aspect of sustainable ocean businesses. The UN Global Compact brings together a large number of corporations, including ocean businesses engaged Participants got a chance to delve deeper into these in transport, energy, minerals and issues in a cleverly designed session, consisting of seafood, who have volunteered to presentations on three cross-cutting themes... implement sustainability principles in their operations. The Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) is an initiative resulting from a series fishing; the marginalization of fishing of Keystone Dialogues between the communities, particularly small- scientific community and the largest scale fisheries, from decision-making global seafood companies. The Seafood roles; value chain and traceability Slavery Risk Tool informs businesses complexities; and the limited capacity about the risks of forced labour, of many NHRIs to engage with the human trafficking, and hazardous sector. child labour in their fisheries value There was a consensus among chains. A DIHR presentation explained participants that the SSF Guidelines how the Institute provides businesses were best suited to articulate and with guidance and tools to conduct advocate for human rights in fisheries, human-rights and sector-wide impact albeit from a small-scale perspective. assessments. But it was recommended that they be translated into actionable points for Specific challenges the private sector, for example, on The country-specific presentations documenting working conditions and gave participants a chance to hear value chains, and promoting consumer directly from fishworker and labour awareness. It was also pointed out organizations in Bangladesh and the that the challenge of balancing NHRI in Chile on specific human-rights conservation and human-rights challenges in their fisheries. While the imperatives in small-scale fisheries focus in Bangladesh is on recognizing was a common theme in both SDG 14 the rights of small-scale capture fishing and the SSF Guidelines. communities, in Chile, aquaculture is

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Sustainable Oceans

FAO/Pietro Cenini

35

Women preparing fish for smoking on a modernC horkor oven, Yeji, Lake Volta, Ghana. One key outcome of the DIHR expert meeting was a plan to map the main components of the fisheries and aquaculture value chains along specific clauses in human-rights instruments and guidelines the priority area, particularly conflicts Committee on World Food Security; For more over the country’s salmon farms, where the Our Oceans Conference, 2019 labour rights and the exclusion of and UN Ocean Conference, 2020; and https://www.humanrights.dk/ artisanal fishers are thorny issues. the International Year of Artisanal Danish Institute for Human Rights While the meeting recognized the Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2022. http://sdg.humanrights.dk/ enormous complexity of the sector The Human Rights Guide to the and the obstacles impeding concerted Sustainable Development Goals: efforts towards the sustainable Linking human rights with all development of fisheries, several Sustainable Development Goals and targets actions were proposed to forge partnerships between human rights https://www.icsf.net/images/what%20 and fisheries actors, and to participate is%20new%20page/ICSF%20Note_ in global and regional processes and SDGs.pdf ICSF Note for CSOs: 2030 Agenda initiatives. One key outcome was a plan for Sustainable Development, to map the main components of the Sustainable Development Goals fisheries and aquaculture value chains (SDGs) and Small-scale Fisheries along specific clauses in human-rights instruments and guidelines, resulting http://www.un.org/en/index.html Sustainable Development Goals in an online “fish and human rights (SDGs) and Small-scale Fisheries dictionary”. Another was capacity building for NHRIs, who can use their https://www.icsf.net/images/what%20 mandate to promote human rights in is%20new%20page/Voluntary%20 fisheries at the country level. commitment_1393%20by%20ICSF%20 Trust.doc The meeting concluded with a look Voluntary Commitments for the ahead to upcoming processes, platforms Ocean Conference at a Glance: 1395 and events where the human-rights- total commitments As on 14 July based approach can be advocated: 2017 - Compiled by ICSF Trust the FAO Committee on Fisheries and

AUGUST 2018 Indonesia Coastal Communities

Reclaiming Rights

Problems of access and control over food, and changes in consumption and distribution patterns are behind the poor nutritional intake in Indonesia's coastal communities

n 2016, five infants in Aru Island, According to this definition, the wide Maluku, Indonesia, suffered from range of the meaning of food includes Imalnutrition. The five had to be not only food but also beverage. Based intensively treated in the Regional on the above Law, the origin of food is Hospital of Cendrawasih Dobo, the not limited to land-based (agriculture capital city of Aru Island Regency. The and forestry) sources, but also waters, patients were from poor families who both freshwater (river, pond and lake) suffer from poor nutritional intake. and salt water (sea). One of the causes of malnutrition The Food and Agriculture in Indonesia is limited access to food Organization of the United Nations 36 in several regions. Problems related (FAO) estimates that fish provides about 3.2 bn people with almost 20 per cent of their average per capita intake of animal protein. In the Indonesian Nutritious food not only comes from the paddy fields, context, seafood consumption, in of ladangs or forests, but also from the sea and coastal particular from wild sources, is growing areas. constantly, according to available data with Koalisi Rakyat untuk Keadilan Perikanan (KIARA). In 2015, the domestic fish consumption was around 38.14 kg to access and control over food, per capita per year, and it has increased and changes in consumption and to 41.11 kg in 2016, showing a growth of distribution patterns are behind the 7.79 per cent. poor nutritional intake. Behind the significant increase Meanwhile, the dependency on in people’s need for seafood and fish a certain commodity such as rice also consumption lie several big challenges places further limitation on access threatening the sustainability of marine to local food. Nutritious food not fishery resources in Indonesia. There only comes from the paddy fields, of are serious challenges originating ladangs or forests, but also from the sea from some of the government policies and coastal areas. that threaten the sovereignty and The article 1 paragraph 1 of Law no. sustainability of seafood, related to 18/2012 on Food defines food as anything reclamation, mining, coastal tourism that originates from biological sources and conservation. This article examines as products of agriculture, plantation, the impact of reclamation and mining forestry, fishery, livestock, waterworks on coastal communities. and water, both processed and unprocessed which are intended as food Development policy and beverage for human consumption, KIARA records that, of late, the This article is by Susan Herawati including food additives, raw materials, development policy of marine and Romica ([email protected] or and other materials utilized in the [email protected]), General Secretary of coastal areas is directed toward KIARA (Koalisi Rakyat untuk Keadilan process of preparing, processing, and/or more industry, tourism, extractive Perikanan), Indonesia making of food or beverage. businesses, property, infrastructure and

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Coastal Communities

KIARA blue carbon. The development trends basically point to a grab of marine space. Today, the coastal and fishery resources are at a nadir due to the extractive and exploitative nature of development. Indonesia's coastal, marine and small island areas are subject to capitalization by interested parties that are keen to control and extract benefits from these areas. An increasing trend in coastal area reclamation projects between 2015 and 2016 is a source of worry. In 2015, there were 16 coastal areas that were reclaimed. These have jumped to 160 projects in 2016, spread between Sumatra and Papua Island. The sea reclamation projects pose a serious threat to the future of Indonesian coastal and marine fisheries. Reclamation is an irony in this Dolulong reclamation project in Indonesia. Sea reclamation projects pose a serious threat to the future nation, blessed with more than 17,000 of Indonesian coastal and marine fisheries islands. The reclamation projects are destroying, instead of improving, the be seen in coastal and marine mining lives of coastal communities along projects. KIARA has recorded (in 2017) Indonesian waters. that 18 coastal areas have been shifted From a legal perspective, the to mining sites. These projects violate 37 reclamation projects are clearly the constitutional rights of coastal contrary to the 1945 Constitution communities, who are also losing their that says Indonesia is an archipelagic healthy and clean coastal areas to State with 'Nusantara' as the main mining activities. characteristic with boundaries and In the Indonesian coastal areas, rights of the territory to be established the expansion of coastal mining is by law. The Indonesian identity as an spreading on a massive scale. In Bangka archipelagic country militates against Belitung, off the east coast of Sumatra, the concept and practice of artificial there are 1,085 mining business licences islands. (called, Izin Usaha Pertambangan or Besides contradicting the 1945 IUPs), comprising 947 IUP metallic Constitution, the reclamation projects mineral mines and 138 IUP non-metallic are also inconsistent with the Law No. mineral mines. The impacts on Bangka 5/1960: Basic Regulation on Agrarian Belitung waters from heavy pollution, Principles, which observes that the abrasion, limitation of livelihood, Indonesian people are united as the damages to the marine ecosystem and Indonesian nation and the earth, water the mangrove belt, are severe. Besides, and airspace, including the natural there are other issues such as the forced resources contained therein, in the eviction of local communities from territory of the Republic of Indonesia, their livelihood sources, decreasing constitute the wealth of the nation fish stocks and the crisis of freshwater (Article 1). The water includes the shortage. territorial sea of Indonesia. We are of the view that reclamation separates Mining projects the long-lasting relationship of the Besides Bangka Belitung, coastal Indonesian coastal communities with mining projects also damage the the waters or sea which serve as their eastern part of Indonesia. In early locus of existence. It is a violation of the 2016, villages located in Buli Bay, substance of Law No.5/1960. East Halmahera Regency in North Besides reclamation, the practice Maluku, which is known as the 'Teri' of marine spatial grabbing, which has (anchovy) village, were damaged been done in a structured manner, can once a nickel mine started operating

AUGUST 2018 Indonesia

there. Besides Halmahera, coastal the future of the coastal community mining is also taking place massively which relies on the sustainability of in Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara and coastal and marine resources. Papua provinces. A particular example Due to the magnitude and of extensive authority enjoyed by a seriousness of the issues facing the mining company is PT Freeport – a Indonesian coastal communities, subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan, a KIARA would urge the Indonesian leading international mining company government to fulfill the right to food with headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, as part of the constitutional rights of the United States – in Papua, which coastal communities, which is also a seems to be far above law, despite basic human right. The government, practices of dumping huge amounts both at the national and regional of copper and gold mine waste into level, is urged to enforce legislation rivers that empty into the Timika Sea. to prohibit actors from damaging the coastal and marine ecosystems, which are harming the livelihoods of coastal communities. The government, in this KIARA would urge the Indonesian government to fulfill context, should evaluate all permits the right to food as part of the constitutional rights of issued to companies that have been coastal communities... proven to damage marine and coastal ecosystems. In cases where supportive evidence is presented, the government should immediately withdraw the The traditional community of Mimika company’s permit to operate. The Wee in Papua is one of the many government is also requested not to 38 communities affected by PT Freeport renew or issue new permits to extractive Indonesia's waste that pollutes their and exploitative industries that destroy waters and causes sedimentation and marine and coastal resources. harmful contamination. It is reported Last but not least, the government that a few endemic species of fish have should employ the Voluntary disappeared from the waters. Guidelines for Securing Sustainable KIARA records that there are 6,081 Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of coastal villages whose waters are Food Security and Poverty Eradication heavily polluted from mine wastes. (SSF Guidelines) as a reference in If the destructive projects are not the making of sovereign, just and stopped immediately, there will be sustainable policy to benefit coastal more damage to coastal villages from fishing communities. pollution. We believe there are no developed and wealthy countries Constitutional rights that rely on destructive mining that We believe the State should ensure the kills the communities’ livelihood. fulfillment of the constitutional rights The Indonesian government is urged of the fisherfolk. These are their rights to immediately close all exploitative to access, manage and utilize the coast projects that have a negative impact and the living resources, and the right on coastal communities and the to enjoy a healthy and clean aquatic ecosystem. environment. In 2017, KIARA also recorded 979 coastal villages suffering from freshwater pollution, 204 coastal villages from land pollution and 125 villages from air pollution. Most of the For more pollution is from factory emissions, http://www.kiara.or.id/ or from companies that explore and The People's Coalition for Fisheries exploit marine and coastal resources. Justice (KIARA) Multiple sources of pollution have been http://knti.or.id/ lowering the quality of Indonesian Kesatuan Nelayam Tradisional waters. Not only is the ecosystem Indonesia (KNTI) damaged, but there are also threats to

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Report COFI Not a Small Focus

With a record participation, the Thirty-third Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) managed to integrate small-scale fisheries issues into almost all agenda items

he Thirty-third Session of the of the African regional group, Côte Committee on Fisheries (COFI) d’Ivoire highlighted the importance Tof the Food and Agriculture of small-scale fisheries, particularly Organization of the United Nations inland fisheries, for Africa. (FAO), held in July 2018, saw a Costa Rica said the highest record participation. There were incidence of poverty and diseases was 760 delegates representing member in the indigenous territories along countries, and many representing non- the Caribbean coast, and observed governmental organizations (NGOs) that adopting a human-rights-based and intergovernmental organizations approach would bring greater dignity (IGOs). Small-scale fisheries issues were to small-scale fishing communities, integrated into almost all agenda items including indigenous peoples. 39 of the meet. Attention was drawn to a bill tabled in Soon after the presentation of the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture Report 2018, Norway drew attention to how discussions ...adopting a human-rights-based approach would bring at COFI on technical issues have greater dignity to small-scale fishing communities, become more intense of late, and to including indigenous peoples. alleviate pressure on COFI, proposed establishing a new sub-committee on fisheries management. It sought inclusion of a paper on the proposed its Legislative Assembly, which hoped sub-committee to be discussed at the to strengthen small-scale fisheries, thirty-fourth session of COFI. The and sought support in effectively sub-committee, in the Norwegian implementing the SSF Guidelines. view, would discuss matters related Costa Rica welcomed the United to policy development and principles, Nations General Assembly resolution on the one hand, and address and proclaiming 2022 the “International review small-scale fisheries, especially Year of Artisanal Fisheries and the implementation of the Voluntary Aquaculture” (IYAFA). Guidelines for Responsible Small- Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Strong focus Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF The European Union (EU) said it is fully Guidelines), on the other. The proposed committed to the implementation of sub-committee was supported by the SSF Guidelines, and drew attention Senegal, Japan, India and the United to the Mid-term Strategy (2017-20) of States (US). the General Fisheries Commission for Many delegations participated the Mediterranean (GFCM) towards in the discussion on agenda item the sustainability of Mediterranean “small-scale and artisanal fisheries and Black Sea fisheries, which has a governance” (Agenda Item 8.2) in strong focus on small-scale fisheries. support of the implementation of the The EU said the small-scale subsector This article is by Sebastian Mathew SSF Guidelines. Speaking on behalf needed: better representation and ([email protected]), Executive Director, ICSF

AUGUST 2018 Report

participation in decision-making Session of COFI in 2011. Implementing processes; strengthened support to the SSF Guidelines would lead to women and secure equal participation improved access to resources and of women in decision-making markets, better provision of social processes; a participatory mechanism security and financial inclusion of the for sharing of traditional knowledge; small-scale subsector, and would lead support and training to build to inclusive governance. However, capacity within small-scale fisheries; implementing the Guidelines in a access to new technologies with a federal and diverse country like India view to improving safety, as well as is a challenge. Several elements of the monitoring, control and surveillance; Guidelines are outside the purview of and fighting against illegal fishing. the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' The EU further observed that tenure is Welfare, and calls for inter-ministerial a key feature of fisheries management, consultation and co-ordination, it was observed. The governance of small- scale fisheries required achieving a Implementing the SSF Guidelines would lead to improved fine balance between socio-cultural access to resources and markets, better provision of security, livelihood security and social security and financial inclusion of the small-scale resource management. Canada said inshore fishery is subsector, and would lead to inclusive governance. a social thread that keeps people together and brings prosperity to the coastal rural communities. Canada including transboundary resource is developing a new legislation to management. The EU further strengthen the policy framework 40 drew attention to the High Level for sustainable inshore fisheries by Conference on Sustainable Small- paying attention to economic, social scale Fisheries in the Mediterranean and cultural factors. The indigenous and the Black Sea, to be held in Malta communities were to articulate their on 25 and 26 September 2018, which preferred means of fishing consistent is expected to adopt a Regional Plan with their cultural values and relief of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries in system. Canada would participate the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and support the Friends of the SSF (RPOA-SSF). A Ministerial Declaration Guidelines under the SSF Guidelines on the RPOA-SSF is expected to be Global Strategic Framework (SSF GSF), signed at the end of the high-level and welcomed celebrating 2022 as event, setting forth SSF actions to IYAFA. be carried out over the next decade Vietnam said the SSF Guidelines (until 2028) to strengthen and support principles are integrated into its legal sustainable small-scale fisheries in the framework, and requested FAO support Mediterranean and the Black Sea. to develop indicators to monitor the The Republic of Korea (RoK) referred implementation of the Guidelines. to SDG 14 – in particular 14.b – on St. Kitts and Nevis informed the small-scale artisanal fisheries. RoK said Committee about the Caribbean it is co-organizing a conference with Community (CARICOM) integrating FAO – Tenure Rights and User Rights in the SSF Guidelines into a regional Fisheries 2018: Achieving Sustainable protocol. Stakeholder awareness about Development Goals by 2030, in Yeosu the Guidelines, however, was to be in September 2018. In the context of improved. IYAFA, RoK supported developing an information baseline and assessing Effective implementation the contribution of small-scale and Japan said it is committed to the artisanal fisheries in marine and inland effective implementation of the SSF waters. Guidelines and was of the view that India supported implementation FAO’s work in relation to tenure and of the SSF Guidelines and recalled rights-based approaches to fisheries proposing a sub-committee on small- also gave an opportunity to implement scale fisheries at the Twenty-ninth the SSF Guidelines.

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 COFI

FAO/GIULIO NAPOLITANO

The opening session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries, Thirty-third Session, 9-13 July 2018, Rome, Italy. Small-scale fisheries issues were integrated into almost all agenda items of the meet

Thailand spoke of its intention to South Africa said it now recognizes formulate an action plan in support of the the contribution of small-scale implementation of the SSF Guidelines. fisheries to food security and poverty 41 Thailand drew attention to the 3rd alleviation. Although the small-scale World Small-scale Fisheries Congress to fishers were earlier marginalized from be held in Chiang Mai in October 2018 the fishing rights allocation process, in collaboration with Too Big to Ignore they now enjoy legal access rights after (TBTI), a global research network. a recent amendment to the Marine Norway said there was little Living Resources Act. This is regarded value if the SSF Guidelines were a major milestone. South Africa has not implemented, and informed several mechanisms to support small- the Committee of its support to the scale fishing communities, including FAO Umbrella Programme for the schemes to benefit small-scale fishing Promotion and Application of the SSF communities in regard to storage, Guidelines, and to an updating of processing and marketing of fish, the Hidden Harvest study. The latter and local labelling to market fish as would improve statistics on small- environment-friendly. scale fisheries. Attention was drawn to many types of conflicts facing small- Sustainable Development Goals scale fisheries across the world. It Argentina said the Sustainable was hoped that the State of Fisheries Development Goal (SDG) 14.b recognizes and Aquaculture report of FAO could the fundamental role of small-scale better reflect the state of small-scale artisanal fisheries, and urged the fisheries as well. Norway highlighted Committee to continue its activities the role of gender-equitable small- to disseminate the SSF Guidelines scale fisheries and the role of women and to raise awareness. It welcomed in providing nutrition and food observing 2022 as IYAFA and supported security. The SSF Guidelines offered a participation of fishers in decision- platform for women in fisheries, said making processes. The use of the term Norway, and observed that small- ‘governance’, however, was opposed by scale fisheries organizations should Argentina on the ground that it could be invited to participate in decision- only apply to an area under national making processes. Norway added that jurisdiction. Neither the 1995 Code more countries should contribute to of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the Umbrella Programme. nor the 2001 International Plan of

AUGUST 2018 Report

Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Indonesia said it supported 2022 Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated as IYAFA and informed the Committee Fishing, use the term governance, said about hosting the Fifth Our Ocean Argentina, and sought replacing it with Conference in Bali on 29 and 30 ‘sustainable management’. October 2018. Indonesia welcomed the Chile welcomed the proclamation SSF GSF and its willingness to be part of 2022 as IYAFA. It sought reducing of the knowledge-sharing platform, gender inequality in fisheries and and highlighted access to resources, promoting greater participation of markets and gender equality as central women in fishing activities. to the SSF Guidelines. Inclusion of The US, while welcoming 2022 as social and economic practices along IYAFA, urged FAO to develop a road the value chain and recognition of local map to IYAFA. Attention was drawn to wisdom were also to be recognized. gathering enhanced data on small-scale China said protection of the interests of small-scale fisheries will be given due consideration and said it is keen to co-operate with FAO and other The Norwegian proposal to establish a sub-committee member States to develop its small- on fisheries management, with a focus on small-scale scale fisheries in future. fisheries, was discussed... Mexico said it was keen to eradicate poverty through sustainable management of fisheries resources, and it supported the SSF Guidelines. fisheries to better understand women’s The Norwegian proposal to role as well as other diverse elements in establish a sub-committee on fisheries 42 small-scale fisheries. The US supported management, with a focus on small- implementing the SSF Guidelines in a scale fisheries, was discussed again fair and effective manner, adopting a under any other matters (Agenda item rights-based approach and recognizing 14). Norway said the FAO secretariat, the role of governance institutions. in close collaboration with the Bureau The US supported the FAO Umbrella of COFI, should develop the proposal Programme and informed the for the establishment of a new sub- Committee that the SSF Guidelines committee. The proposal was to be have been incorporated into the circulated six months before the United States Agency for International Thirty-fourth Session of COFI. The Development (USAID) country projects US reiterated its support. Argentina, in Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Canada, Pakistan, Sudan, Namibia, the Philippines. The updating of the Russian Federation, Brazil, St. Kitts and Hidden Harvest study, said the US, Nevis, Mexico, Belize, Iceland, South could assist in better understanding and Sudan and Guatemala also extended improvement of small-scale fisheries. support to the proposal. Senegal supported the statement made by Côte d’Ivoire on behalf of the African regional group and welcomed 2022 as IYAFA. Governance of tenure in fisheries is a matter of concern for Senegal and it drew attention to its Maritime Fisheries Code (2015). It was For more hoped that the proposed sub-committee on fisheries management could also http://www.fao.org/about/meetings/cofi/ deal with small-scale fisheries issues. en/ Brazil was in support of SDG 14.b. Thirty-third Session Committee on Drawing attention to a growing trend Fisheries, 9-13 July 2018, Rome, in illegal fishing, It was keen to register Italy and license all artisanal fishers, and http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6882e.pdf agreed with Argentina's preference Report of the Thirty-second Session for using the term ‘management’ over of the Committee on Fisheries, ‘governance’. Rome, 11-15 July 2016

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Weather Forecasting A Fishers’ Forecaster

Action research by the University of Sussex is bringing fishermen and scientists together to track wind, and waves and save lives

een from the air, and loudspeakers. It is a trial-and-error Thiruvananthapuram, the capital process and we call it, “Co-production Scity of Kerala state in south India, of knowledge and communication looks like a magic carpet – a long tools for safe and sustainable artisanal strip of golden sand separating a vast fishing.” green canopy of coconut palms and We focus on two fishing villages. the turquoise shimmer of the Arabian The first is Anchuthengu in the north of Sea. These sandy shores are home to the district and part of a barrier island, the largest concentration of artisanal where the British East India Company marine fishers in this part of the world built one of its first forts in 1695. It is a – 42 villages spread along a 48-mile thin strip of land between the Arabian coastline. Many of these fishers are Sea and a lagoon. It is losing part of 43 poor. its seaward edge, especially after the Marine fishing in the tropical seas off Thiruvananthapuram (8° 31' N 76° 56' E) is an adventurous affair, especially The research here by the University of Sussex seeks during the monsoon season that begins ways to make marine weather forecasts more accurate, on 1 June and lasts till September. During these months, fishers brave accessible and actionable in line with the risk culture of high waves, buffeting winds, swift the fishers. ocean currents, thunderstorms and low visibility, but even today, they have no easy access to regular marine weather groynes laid for a fishing harbour built forecasts. on a nearby estuary has changed wave The research here by the University and current patterns and worsened of Sussex seeks ways to make marine coastal erosion. In bad weather, fishers weather forecasts more accurate, find it risky to enter and exit the sea accessible and actionable in line mouth as high waves overturn their with the risk culture of the fishers. small craft or hurl them against the We work in collaboration with state granite structures. People have died in officials and forecasters – mainly our such accidents and the fishers consider research partners, the State Disaster it the biggest risk they face. Management Authority (SDMA) and the Indian National Centre for Visual communication Ocean Information Services (INCOIS). In our risk communication workshops, Our team, led by Professor Filippo Anchuthengu fishers preferred to Osella, an anthropologist, comprises address the harbour-related risks another senior anthropologist, an first. So they focused on visual integration design expert and two communication, designing a set of This article is by Max Martin of us geographers. We design model signals marking safe channels for ([email protected] ), a forecasts and weather alerts with navigation to the harbour. While the research fellow engaged in field work in Thiruvananthapuram, India as part of a the local fishers, and help them fishers negotiate with the district Sussex Sustainability Research Programme disseminate these bulletins over many authorities to install this signal system, study aimed at better risk communication for channels such as mobile phones, radio they have also requested the SDMA local fishers

AUGUST 2018 Weather

to provide another set of signals to miles south of Anchuthengu. The two give rough weather alerts. Experts of villages are connected by a canal built the Kerala State Institute of Design in the early 19th century by a queen in nearby Kollam district are helping of the erstwhile Travancore kingdom. the fishers in the process. As I write The canal, once a trunk route, is now this article, the fishers are looking in disuse, but fishers frequently move for brighter light-emitting diode between the two villages by road and (LED) lamps to replace a set they had sea, and find partners in business and installed on their own as part of a test life. Poonthura was one of the villages signal system. Anchuthengu fishers worst hit by Cyclone Ockhi, which led are also exploring better ways to share to many fishers dying or going missing marine weather forecasts – through at sea. The storm system had formed in mobile phone calls, social media and the southern Bay of Bengal and caused loudspeaker announcements. damage in Sri Lanka on 29 November, A small group in the nearby only to intensify the next day off the Puthukurichy village called Radio coasts of Thiruvananthapuram and Monsoon is offering marine weather Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, bulletins in Malayalam over phone sinking dozens of boats. Fishers were lines and WhatsApp, based on an already out at sea when the storm INCOIS service. The fishers like to rapidly gained strength, and were hear it over small loudspeakers, along unable to access forecasts. The event with other useful information such as itself was not classified as a cyclonic availability of fish and market trends. storm (wind speeds greater than 39 On 13 June, we tested a set of public miles per hour) till 30 November. address systems to disseminate these Faced with weather-related risks at 44 messages at places where the fishers sea, the local fishers of Poonthura are dock their boats. The fishers said demanding two interventions. First, the bulletins, based on INCOIS and they need a clear forecast dissemination Indian Meteorological Department system accessible on the sandy seashore (IMD) forecasts, were accurate most and a local estuary where they launch of the time. They are now trying to their boats. They prefer loudspeaker set up a small studio to record audio announcements and voice calls over programmes. currently available text messages that Our other field study site is INCOIS provides. Second, they want a Muthalappozhi harbour Poonthura, close to the city and 20 system that is reliable when they are fishing offshore. Fishers here often go max martin 25 nautical miles and beyond, moving Harbour north or south, where the wind patterns HARBOUR can be dramatically different from The harbour three miles south what they experience closer to home. of Anchuthengu village, Younger fishers already share weather, connected through a lagoon, is fish and navigation information over hazard-prone in rough weather. The local villagers their own informal networks of mobile are designing a signal system phones (range of up to 10 nautical to make it safer. It also leads miles offshore) and wireless sets. What to coastal erosion on its they want is a wireless base station northern side. that can give round-the-clock weather information and a way to connect it with formal weather forecast systems. Another idea is to set up their own community frequency modulation (FM) radio station, which can beam forecasts, songs and talk shows. The radio station is taking time to materialize amidst deliberations about who should own and run it. Muthalappozhi harbour, three miles south of Anchuthengu village in Kerala and connected Meanwhile, we join the discussions through a lagoon, is hazard-prone in rough weather amongst fishers, technologists and

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Forecasting

Kevin Julius regulators as part of our research, looking at the feasibility of various locally owned risk communication options. In our workshops, the fishers said that marine weather forecasts need to be more local, accurate and timely, and must have a clear focus on conditions offshore. The weather bulletins currently available over radio and television are largely land-based. Offshore wind patterns are of particular interest to the fishers. However, they have no access to services such as Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) that informs the maritime industry over specialized equipment and the Internet. Ongoing experiments such as Radio Monsoon include GMDSS information. At the same time, the government Sorting fish at Anchuthengu, Kerala, India. In our risk communication workshops, Anchuthengu fishers agencies are listening to the fishers and preferred to address the harbour-related risks first offering support to some of their local, last-mile communication initiatives. In we share notes on the accuracy of the March, when a storm system gained forecasts at different points. The idea strength off the Kerala coast, the IMD is to look for novel and better ways issued warnings which were relayed of risk communication for safe and 45 over loudspeakers by the SDMA, which sustainable fishing. We share this data also banned fishing activities for a few with the forecasters, contributing to days. Fishers welcome such alerts, better models and future research. Our though they are concerned that fishing in-house philosophy remains: “Save restrictions cover a large swathe of one life and it will be worth it.” the sea, and false alerts adversely affect their livelihoods. They demand more precision in terms of time and space. Such concerns about accuracy, accessibility and actionability of the forecasts became the focus of a research meeting we hosted in For more Thiruvananthapuram on 11 June, for our stakeholders and a group of https://www.icsf.net/en/occasional- scientists and experts who collaborate papers/article/EN/149-some-aspects-of. with us. html?limitstart=0 As the fishers and forecasters Eyes on their fingertips: Some continue their debate and dialogue, aspects of the arts, science, they have already started taking technology and culture of the precautions in anticipation of the fisherfolk of Trivandrum, India rough sea conditions during the https://www.facebook.com/ monsoon season. For our part, we RadioMonsoon/ are conducting more ‘co-production’ Facebook: Radio Monsoon workshops and field trials of various https://twitter.com/radiomonsoon modes of risk communication. We Twitter: Radio Monsoon are tracking small fishing vessels and https://www.icsf.net/en/samudra/article/ mapping their forays with the aid of EN/78-4347-Comment.html global positioning system (GPS) devices, On Land, at Sea, Lives Matter which several fishers carry on board, and then comparing these tracks with http://sdma.kerala.gov.in/ Kerala - State Disaster Management potential fishing grounds shown in Authority satellite images. Once they return,

AUGUST 2018 Report Film Festival

Cinema and Resistance

This year the Pêcheurs du Monde film festival, which turns 10, was held between 19 and 25 March 2018, in Lorient, France

ilmmakers have always been the festival, which are rarely screened fascinated by the sea, and the lives elsewhere in Europe, stun spectators Fand work of fishermen. In the by documenting the contempt and course of its 10 editions, the Pêcheurs cynicism of organizations that claim to du Monde (Fishers of the World) film defend the environment but refuse to festival has screened hundreds of films recognize the rights of the communities of all kinds – features, documentaries, living off these marine resources. The reports, etc. Each year, the festival age-old relationship of fishermen 46 gives audiences the opportunity to with the ocean cannot be perpetuated rediscover exceptional achievements without a love for nature. in cinema on fishers, both new and Many films at the festival testify to this relationship. In Los Ojos del Mar, directed by Jose Álvarez, the wife of Each year, the festival gives audiences the opportunity to a Mexican fisherman who has been rediscover exceptional achievements in cinema on fishers, missing at sea for 10 years invents a both new and old, giving visibility to the forgotten ritual: She embarks on a fishing boat individuals and communities who strive to protect the and on reaching the spot where her ocean husband disappeared, she throws overboard an illustrated box containing objects that reconstitute a link with old, giving visibility to the forgotten him. She mixes Indian and Catholic individuals and communities who rites before displaying a frenzy of life in strive to protect the oceans. a sensual dance. Marine conservation has become a major theme in the media and in film, Unique knowledge but if we forget the men and women This particular relationship with who make a living from the seas, this the marine world endows fishing priority may turn against already communities with unique knowledge. fragile communities and their human Two films – Enquête sur ma Mer and Un rights. Indeed, behind some of the Monde Relationnel – show the richness memorable campaigns to protect the of the knowledge accumulated through marine environment, are banks intent tradition and the daily experience on the valuation and extraction of of observing fish behaviour. The marine wealth. Every year, the festival directors, Elisabeth Tempier and evokes the risks of such campaigns and Philippe Houssin, a photographer- this time it is the film, Angry Inuk which animator pair, document the won two jury awards. The film tells the Prud'homies of southern France, This article, by Alain Le Sann (ad.lesann@ story of the human disaster created which are ancient systems of collective orange.fr), founder and president of the in Inuit communities by campaigns international Pêcheurs du Monde (Fishers fisheries management. Local fishermen of the World) film festival, was translated by against the misunderstood practice of must constantly change the position Danièle Le Sann seal hunting. This and other films at and colour of their nets because the

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 Film Festival

ALAIN LE SANN

47

André Menras receives his price from students for his film,L es chevaliers des sables jaunes, about Vietnamese fishermen who employ an amazing fishing technique, using electric poles that stun reef fish, which is very selective but also exhausting and dangerous for the diving fishermen fish adapt to the gear over time. These women divers in Japan. Everywhere, observations open up interesting new the passing of each generation of fields of research. Fishermen also fishermen threatens such transmission. analyze the species diversity and try to Often, as shown in Claudia Neubern’s control the proliferation of certain fish, Il Canto del Mare, there remains only for example, small pelagic species, that one fisherman in ports that once threaten their traditional resources had dozens; when they die, their of rock fish, by consuming their eggs. knowledge will disappear. Some We see that resource management traditions help maintain the link is not simply 'maximum sustainable between society and the increasingly yield' (MSY), but a process that requires marginalized fishermen. In Norway’s a thorough understanding of prey- Lofoten Islands, where the cod fishery predator relationships. A film shot is still flourishing, children from seven covertly in Vietnam, The Knights of the to 12 years are encouraged by their Yellow Sands, by director André Menras, parents to work for two weeks, cutting shows an amazing fishing technique, cod tongues in a factory. They make using electric poles that stun reef fish, good money and look forward to it. which is very selective but exhausting In Solveig Melkeraaen’s film, and dangerous for diving fishermen. Tungeskjærerne, a young girl, raised in The young students who were invited the rich, urbanized society of Norway's to a jury at the festival were manifestly Oslo, decides to try it. She finally seduced by the skill of the fishermen, succeeds and passes this rite of passage, who work in very perilous conditions. which goes to the roots of Norwegian Undoubtedly, it is important to society. It is also an opportunity to preserve and transmit this unique discover the autonomy these children knowledge – that of Inuit seal hunters, acquire through the experience. Vietnamese pole fishers, artisanal In Ama-San, directed by Cláudia fishermen of the Mediterranean or Varejâo, we see the pleasure that

AUGUST 2018 Report

Japanese women divers derive from work of a fisherman in the 1980s, the their vocation. Through their fishing heyday of industrial fishing, from the co-operative, older women pass on point of view of his wife and children – their traditional skills to the few a modern look on a world perceived as young women who agree to continue very masculine. this exhausting activity. This film As it does every year, this time too won the Chandrika Sharma Award the festival showcased films on the for highlighting the role of women in various facets of Big Business’s grab fisheries. of oceans, lakes and coasts. Risteard This year, many films reflected Ó Domhnaill’s Atlantic explores the importance of women in fisheries. a heretofore unknown impact of In Senegal, they control processing offshore oil exploration: the shock to activities, as they do in Mexico’s cetacean and fish populations caused freshwater fishery (Les femmes de by explosions on the seabed. The Petatan by Carmen Pedroza Gutiérrez). threat of extractive industries is also A fisherwoman from Le Guilvinec, depicted in films such as Veronica Scarlett Le Corre, took part in a lively Quense Mendez’s La Ultima Barricada, discussion on the film dedicated to her on mining in Chile, and in Angry Inuk, (Scarlette, une Femme sur le Pont by which is set in Arctic Canada. The Leslie Benzaquen, Henri Desaunay and ravages caused by illegal fishing in Nicolas Berthelot). The audiences also Asia and Africa are denounced in the got an opportunity to rediscover a film investigative documentary, Mafia des made 30 years ago by Yolande Josèphe, Océans. In Lebanon (Wled Bayrout, president of the jury in 2018. Her film, directed by Sarah Srage), fishing La Mer à L’Envers, portrays the life and villages are displaced to make way 48 ALAIN LE SANN

Young fish processing and selling apprentices associated with the festival, which gave visibility to the forgotten individuals and communities who strive to protect the oceans

SAMUDRA Report No. 79 ALAIN LE SANN for private real estate interests, and fishing areas devastated by pollution – a threat faced by many Mediterranean countries. No matter how grave the threat, coastal communities continue to resist, especially when their cultural roots are strong, as in the case of indigenous people. Angry Inuk, the award-winning film about the struggle to carry on the traditional Arctic seal hunt, is also a tale about the resilience of an indigenous culture as new oil and mining interests threaten their lives and autonomy. Yet, resistance is not easy when the adversary is powerful and the struggle deepens divisions within the community. In Poisson d'or, Poisson Africain, Thomas Grand and Moussa Diop subtly analyze the internal Thomas Grand receiving an award for his filmP oisson d’or, Poisson Africain, which subtly analyzes the tensions within a fishing community in internal tensions within a fishing community in Casamance, Senegal Casamance, Senegal. In Chile, salmon farm workers, shellfish gatherers and But if these films evoke the artisanal fishers do not always have the problems experienced by fishermen same interests, even if they all fight a and fisherwomen, they also show common enemy – large salmon farms images of happiness in work, nature 49 (La Ultima Barricada). When there is and community life: whether it is in unity, as amongst the fishermen of the Norway, Canada, Japan, Vietnam, Indian Ocean islands (Unis pour Durer Senegal or France. It is these images by Mathilde Junot), it is easier to be that viewers will remember – a tribute heard. to the lives of the men, women and The films presented at this year's children at the heart of the films. festival show that fishermen are at the heart of the big forces sweeping over the planet: the environmental crisis, of course, but also China’s growing footprint in the world (The Knights of the Yellow Sands and Golden Fish, African Fish). Each year, the theme of migration comes back with greater force. Fishermen are often migrants themselves, as in Charlie Petersmann’s Deltas, Back to Shores or Lebous, Labous: Une Histoire de la Mer, by James Labous. This year, the festival screened an exceptional film by José Leitao de Barros, Maria do Mar, shot in Nazaré, For more Portugal, in 1930. This silent film was presented in a cine concert, with Roberto http://webdoc.france24.com/odyssey- senegal-fishermen-france/index.html Tricarri’s quintet playing alongside. The Fishermen and the Sea: The All the spectators were dazzled by the Odyssey of Senegalese fishermen exceptional images, music, and the from Lorient to Joal-Fadiouth discovery of the fishermen's world of that time in Nazaré. http://www.pecheursdumonde.org/ Pecheurs du Monde (Fishers of the Thanks to these films, universal World) Festival International de problems are perceived in their Films, Lorient singularity and humanity.

AUGUST 2018 Roundup News, events, briefings and more... Fisheries Legislation looking-to-increase-habitat- Indigenous fishing protection-and-indigenous- communities of Nepal provide participation-230224/ just one example... New laws in Canada for habitat The Sonaha are a minority fishing community spread protection, indigenous participation Biodiversity across Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts. Their bill currently before the will, among other things, also A vanishing total population is just over ACanadian senate being explicitly require the minister 1,200. Most of them live in heralded by environmental to take into consideration villages along the Geruwa and Indigenous rights groups the protection of Indigenous way of life River, a branch of the Karnali doesn’t go far enough, rights prior to making any lenty of studies have that marks the western according to the organization decisions on fisheries law Pshown how mainstream boundary of Bardiya National that represents commercial fish and incorporate traditional conservation aims to protect Park, the largest protected area harvesters in Labrador. Indigenous knowledge into the ‘biodiversity hotspots’ but in the Tarai. Bill C68 seeks to amend the decision-making process... undermines the knowledge (http://kathmandupost. Fisheries Act and other laws https://www.cbncompass. and culture of the people, often ekantipur.com/news/2018- to increase protection of fish ca/news/regional/ the poor and marginalized, 03-27/a-vanishing-way-of-life. and fish habitats. If passed, it new-fisheries-legislation- who inhabit such hotspots. html)

Organizational profile Mwambao Coastal Community Network

anzania’s long Indian particularly in marine protected when the area is ‘open’. After opportunity for Mwambao, the TOcean coastline, and the areas (MPAs). starting with a pilot project in lead implementation agency, to offshore islands of Zanzibar Mwambao is based in 2015, these closure areas have scale up the impact of its work. (Unguja) and Pemba, are home Zanzibar and supports a rapidly expanded to villages Tanzania is one of the very to rich marine ecosystems. The growing network of coastal on Pemba and Unguja, which few African countries where 50 fish and other aquatic resources communities that can learn adopted the model in order to dynamite fishing is commonly of the coastline also support from one another through improve local management. practiced. Mwambao has been the livelihoods of millions of peer-to-peer exchange, and Capitalizing on the success working with two leading non- Tanzanians and are critical to work together on shared of these octopi closures, governmental organizations, local and regional food security, interests such as fisheries policy villages are encouraged to using local networks, to address besides sustaining the tourism and legal reform. Supported introduce more ambitious this incredibly destruc¬tive industry. Although fisheries in by partnerships with Fauna management measures. For practice. The past two years the region is largely small-scale example, in Kukuu village on have seen significant progress – using canoes, basket traps, Pemba Island, Mwambao has in combating this threat, handlines and longlines – in supported the community as demonstrated by new MWAMBAO COASTAL recent years, the demand for COMMUNITY NETWORK in establishing a permanent information collected by high-value species like octopus, ‘no-take zone’ within a larger Mwambo. squid, marlin and kingfish, and temporary fishing closure area. Mwambao has played a the arrival of outboard motors and Flora International, The management of this area key role in introducing the has led to an unsustainable Blue Ventures, the Indian is regulated through Kukuu’s Voluntary Guidelines for exploitation of fish stocks. Ocean Commission and other own local plan, the first to be Securing Sustainable Small- Moreover, destructive practices international organizations, devel¬oped by a community Scale Fisheries in the Context like the use of dynamite have Mwambao is quickly developing in all of Zanzibar. Kukuu’s of Food Security and Poverty been so prevalent that local into a leading grassroots model has set a strong example Eradication (SSF Guidelines) fishers said they would hear institution in fisheries that can be emulated across in Tanzania’s marine fisheries, between 20 and 50 blasts a day management and marine Zanzibar and Tanzania. working on the national team in many locations conservation in Tanzania. Kukuu is also a part of the for the implementation, and The Mwambao Coastal As a starting point, 1000-sq km Pemba Channel facilitating an initial workshop Community Network helps Mwambao has successfully Conservation Area (PECCA), in 2015. Communication and Tanzanian communities to developed a local model for where Mwambao is working collaboration is not easy, given strengthen local fisheries- fisheries management using to improve local fisheries- Tanzania’s 1,424-km-long management systems and tempo¬rary octopi closures management institutions coastline and large population conservation practices for or seasonal bans, where and collaboration with the engaged in fisheries. the marine resources. This communities agree to ‘close’ government. This expansive Mwambao is exploring includes developing village- their fishery for a three-month MPA is home to several how best to support fishing level management committees; period. This allows octopi stocks important marine species, communities, through existing establishing temporary to recover, to grow rapidly and in addition to mangroves, and new activities for the and permanent closures or to reach the size necessary seagrass beds, and coral reefs. progressive implementation of fishing ban periods and other for breeding, resulting in a Nine thousand local fishers also the SSF Guidelines in Tanzania. regulations to better manage significantly larger harvest depend on the area for their – by Lorna Slade, Executive high-value species such as when fishing resumes. Many livelihood. A four-year project Director and Ali Thani, Country octopus; and improving villages go on to repeat this funded by the Government Co-ordinator, of the Mwambao collaborative management regime every three months, of United Kingdom’s Darwin Coastal Community Network with the government, with only two or three days Initiative, provides a critical (www.mwambao.or.tz)

SAMUDRA Report No.79 Subscribe free to SAMUDRA News Alerts at http://www.icsf.net

Fisheries Statistics Estimate of global fishing fleet size and distribution

he total number of fishing The motorized fleet is America and the Caribbean, to registration requirements Tvessels in the world in 2016 distributed unevenly around Oceania, North America and as larger vessels are, and even was estimated to be about the world, with Asia having Europe in descending order. when registered they may not be 4.6 million, unchanged from nearly 80 percent of the These undecked vessels were reported in national statistics. 2014. The fleet in Asia was reported motorized fleet in mostly in the length overall The lack of information and the largest, consisting of 3.5 2016 (2.2 million vessels), (LOA) class of less than 12 m reporting is particularly acute million vessels, accounting for followed by Africa with about and included the smallest boats for inland water fleets, which 75 percent of the global fleet. In 153 000 powered vessels. In used for fishing. are often entirely omitted from Africa and North America the Size distribution of vessels national or local registries. estimated number of vessels and the importance of small Usually the non-motorized declined from 2014 by just over boats vessels are a minor component 30 000 and by nearly 5 000, In 2016, about 86 percent of the total national fleet; respectively. For Asia, Latin of the motorized fishing exceptions include Benin, America and the Caribbean vessels in the world were in where they constituted the and Oceania the numbers all the LOA class of less than 12 large majority, and Bangladesh, increased, largely as a result m, the vast majority of which Myanmar and Sri Lanka, of improvements in estimation were undecked, and those where they represented up procedures. small vessels dominated to 50 percent of the total. Globally, the number of in all regions. Asia had the In the selected countries in engine-powered vessels was largest absolute number of Europe, Latin America and the estimated to be 2.8 million motorized vessels under 12 Caribbean and Oceania, the in 2016, remaining steady m, followed by Latin America great majority of the vessels from 2014. Motorized vessels and the Caribbean. Only about were motorized. Information represented 61 percent of 2 percent of all motorized on vessels is essential for all fishing vessels in 2016, Europe, the fleet capacity fishing vessels were 24 m and effective performance-based down from 64 percent in has continued to decline larger (roughly more than 100 fisheries governance. It is 51 2014, as the number of non- steadily since 2000 as a result gross tonnage [GT]), and the therefore a serious concern that motorized vessels increased, of management measures proportion of these large boats data on vessels are often most probably because of improved to reduce the fleet capacity. was highest in Oceania, Europe lacking for small-scale fisheries, estimations. Generally, This region has the highest and North America. Worldwide, which are typically a key source motorized vessels make up percentage of motorized vessels FAO estimated about 44 600 of livelihoods and nutrition for a much higher proportion in the overall fleet. fishing vessels with LOA of at coastal communities. in marine operating vessels The largest absolute least 24 m for 2016. – from The State of World than in the inland water fleet. number of unpowered vessels Despite the global Fisheries and Aquaculture, 2018. However, data reporting was was in Asia, with over 1.2 prevalence of small vessels, FAO. not of sufficient quality to million in 2016, followed by estimations of their numbers http://www.fao.org/state- disaggregate marine and inland Africa (just under 500 000 are likely to be less accurate, of-fisheries-aquaculture water fleets. non-motorized boats), Latin as they are often not subject

LATIN AMERICA NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN OCEANIA 82.1 296.7 14.8 (1.8%) (6.4%) (0.3%) AFRICA EUROPE 647.5 97.4 (14.0%) (2.1%) ASIA ASIA 3,490.0 AFRICA (75.4%) EUROPE

NORTH AMERICA

OCEANIA

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Distribution of motorized and non-motorized fishing vessels by region, 2016 (thousands)

AUGUST 2018 Roundup News, events, briefings and more... INFOlog: New resources at icsf Flashback ICSF’s Documentation Centre (dc.icsf.net) has a range of Now Walk the Talk information resources, which are regularly updated. A selection: he tenth of June ought to be celebrated as “World Small-scale Publications TFisheries Day” since it was on this historic day in 2014 that the Committee on Fisheries (COFI) of the Food and Agriculture The Fishermen and the Sea: The Odyssey of Senegalese Organization of the United Nations (FAO) formally endorsed the Fishermen from Lorient to Joal-Fadiouth International http://webdoc.france24.com/odyssey-senegal-fishermen-france/ Guidelines index.html on Securing Fishermen throughout time have crossed the sea in search of more Sustainable bountiful waters. They set sail from Brittany, Norway, the Basque Small-scale country, Galicia, and now, Senegal… Those featured in this book Fisheries in hail from the small sliver of coast that stretches from the Senegalese the Context of capital of Dakar to the coastal town of Joal-Fadiouth. Food Security Salas, Silvia, Barragan-Paladines, Maria Jose, and Poverty Chuenpagdee, Ratana (Eds.). Viability and Sustainability Eradication of Small-Scale Fisheries in Latin America and the (SSF Caribbean. Springer. 2018 Guidelines). https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319760773 In adopting the Guidelines, COFI also honoured Chandrika Sharma, former Executive Secretary of ICSF, for her invaluable Case studies in this work offer lessons learned in terms of contributions to small-scale fisheries. vulnerability concerns, market dynamics, social capital, and institutional and legal frameworks of small-scale fisheries, which is By adopting these Guidelines, the international community a priority for many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. It has lent its weight to the struggles of fishers, fishworkers is a useful contribution to the implementation of the SSF Guidelines and their communities in the small-scale sector, as well as to in the region. indigenous peoples worldwide to defend their right to secure life and livelihood from fisheries-related activities, both marine and What gender mainstreaming in agriculture means in inland. The adoption of the Guidelines marks an expression of practice: Cases from selected countries of the European support to a politically and economically marginalized people, Union. FAO. 2018. 112p. beleaguered by, among other things, pollution, displacement, 52 http://www.fao.org/3/i8958en/I8958EN.pdf conflicts over space and resources and climate-change impacts, This publication focuses on case studies from five member countries and poor access to education, health and housing facilities. of the European Union. These illustrate how gender equality issues The Guidelines represent the first formal attempt to talk can be addressed in agriculture and rural development policies in the same breath about equitable development of fishing (including fisheries and aquaculture, forestry and livestock), communities and sustainable small-scale fisheries. They programmes and practices. recognize small-scale fishing communities as a subsector that What does the fisherman want?: Report on the survey demands multisectoral and multistakeholder solutions. The among fishers around Lake Nokoué and Porto-Novo Guidelines are couched in the language of a ‘rights-based Lagoon in Benin by Ben Sonneveld et al. approach’, where human rights take priority over property https://www.aced-benin.org/sites/default/files/publications/ rights. Developed in an inclusive, ground-up and participatory report_fishermen_benin.pdf manner, the Guidelines weave together international human- This study analyzes a survey of 839 fishermen active in Lake rights standards and soft and hard legal instruments that deal Nokoué and the Porto-Novo Lagoon in Benin. The survey focuses with fisheries, labour, women and gender, land, food, nutrition, on the regulations among fishermen of sharing the common water ecosystem, trade and climate change. They deal substantially resources, and evaluates whether these customary rules can cope with most of the concerns of small-scale, rural and indigenous with new challenges. communities worldwide, as articulated through a raft of workshops of civil society organizations (CSOs), held in Africa, Videos Asia, Central and Latin America since 2011, in preparation for the Ghana: A Fishing Nation in Crisis FAO technical consultations in May 2013 and February 2014. The Guidelines will now have to move into the https://vimeo.com/271532956/0e956e5214 implementation mode. In this context, firstly, they should be A new film has been released on the crisis in Ghana’s fisheries and made relevant for all vulnerable and marginalized groups who the illegal practice of ‘saiko’ – where industrial trawlers sell fish to depend on small-scale fisheries. local canoes at sea. This is driving the collapse of Ghana’s inshore fishery, on which millions of Ghanaians rely for food security and – from SAMUDRA Report No.68, August 2014 income.

announcements

Meetings GAF7 – the 7th Global Symposium securing sustainable access to healthy The Women’s Industry Network on Gender in Aquaculture and halibut, sablefish and rockfish stocks. (WIN) Tenure and User Rights in Fisheries, Bangkok, Thailand, ALFA supported an aggressive rebuilding Fisheries 2018: Achieving http://winsc.org.au/ 18-20 October 2018 schedule for depleted sablefish stocks Sustainable Development Goals The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) was by 2030, Yeosu, Republic of Korea, https://genderaquafish. during the 1980s, and led the battle formed in 1996 by a group of women fishing 10-14 September 2018 org/2017/11/28/save-the-date-gaf-7- to eliminate trawling from southeast in south Australia. In 1998 the Women’s http://www.fao.org/about/meetings/ 18-20-october-2018-ait-bangkok/ Alaska waters during the 1990s. ALFA Industry Network Seafood Community user-rights also supported the implementation of an Websites individual quota system for North Pacific (WINSC) developed into a national body The 3rd World Small-Scale with organizations in each state. WINSC is Alaska Longline Fishermen’s halibut and sablefish stocks, successfully Fisheries Congress (3WSFC), the only national organization in Australia Chiang Mai, Thailand, 22-26 Association (ALFA) campaigning for measures to protect the that represents women in the seafood October 2018 http://www.alfafish.org independent, community-based fleet industry. https://toobigtoignore.wixsite. Founded in 1978, ALFA has successfully critical to the economic health of Alaska’s com/3wsfcongress represented longline fishermen in coastal communities.

SAMUDRA Report No.79 Shibani CHAUDHURY

Endquote ishermen’s nets hung on great stripped tree trunks buried among the rocks at the edge of the river F(rocks like those that, in the river, created the rapids). At one end of the cleared area were thatched huts; the place had become a fishing village again. The sinking sun shot through layers of grey cloud; the water turned from brown to gold to red to violet. And always there was the steady noise of the rapids, innumerable little cascades of water over rock. The darkness came; and sometimes the rain came as well, and to the sound of the rapids was added the sound of rain on water.

– from A Bend in the River by V. S. Naipaul