Small-scale fishers world wide were on the agenda this week when General Secretary of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples, Naseegh Jaffer  represented the WFFP at the UN Committee on World Food Security (CFS).         The WFFP’s statement read to the plenary session of the UN Committee on World Food Security argues that “the strategically important contribution ...
Statement made by: Naseegh Jaffer For the Global Civil Society Group (incorporating WFFP) President, on behalf of the Civil Society Mechanism, we warmly welcome the initiative of the FAO Committee on Food Security to organize a policy round table on âSustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture for food security and nutritionâ, and we commend the report of the High Level Panel of Experts on ...
From PP John, President, Kerala Swathanthra Malsyathozhilaly Federation (KSMTF) A ‘Boat March’ from Mangalore to Thiruvananthapuram – with a slogan “Protect  Sea, Coast, Inland water bodies and Fish Resources” Dear friends, While the crisis of fisheries sector is increasing day by day, the sea and the coast are being removed from the traditional fishing community slowly. The coastal areas are being invaded by the ...
Aside from all the enlightening discussions and work towards the protection of small-scale fisheries rights, the 6th WFFP conference also served as the election grounds for the WFFP new Coordination Committee going forward. The new committee was decided upon via a consensus and comments from all members within the WFFP whilst including the aims of having a group that was ...
As the 6th WFFP General Assembly got underway today, delegates from all around the world came together to begin discussions on the challenges and the way forward of the WFFP. With thanks to WFFP member Masifundise, all 120 delegates were treated to local cultural items of entertainment, including a rousing struggle song, delivered by Coastal Links members, to encourage the ...
Coastal Links â South Africa is gearing up for the WFFP General Assembly to be held in Cape Town on 1-5 September. One of the critical issues Coastal Links will add to the agenda is access rights. According to the fisher people from all four Coastal Provinces, the most important challenge remains access to resources, both in the sphere of ...
In the wake of the 2004 tsunami, which also destroyed the coastlines of the Kalpitiya peninsula and its surrounding islands in Sri Lanka, a handful of decision makers and investors took advantage of the âstate of shockâ to push through market-driven reforms and tourism development plans under the rubric of the Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN). While fishing ...
Hondurasâ pristine marine waters are under multiple threats from transnational corporations and investors, as well as powerful politicians. Since the 1970s, 70,000 hectares equivalent to half of Gulf of Fonsecaâs mangrove forests have gone from community ownership to private concessions. North and South American or European corporations have taken native populationsâ rights to access resources away, mainly for tourism and ...
âUPHOLD our human and fishing rights as fisherfolk of the world, protect our livelihoods, pursue social justice for fishing communities, preserve and promote the culture of fishing communities worldwide, affirm water as the source of all life and commit ourselves to sustain fisheries and all aquatic resources for present and future generations of the worldâ. With these words, fisherfolk from ...
Small-scale fishers worldwide will benefit significantly when international guidelines governing the sector are finally adopted. The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (The Voluntary Guidelines) was approved at an international forum in Rome in July. According to Naseegh Jaffer, National Director of Masifundise and Co-ordinator of the WFFP, the Voluntary ...