28 years ago, we founded the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP), a mass-basedfisher people’s organisation. We formed WFFP to fight for the customary and human rights of the more than 10 million fisher peoples, encompassing diverse groups of traditional fishermen and fisherwomen, women and men seafood collectors and gatherers from 52 countries.
The so-called development projects rolled out by corporations, financiers andgovernments all over the world, are increasingly expropriating our fisher peoples from our territories and denying our customary rights. The rise of authoritarianism and fascism is resulting in the militarisation, criminalisation and violence against our peoples. When protesting against the so-called development projects in many countries we are arrested and beaten up. Our Human Rights and environmental defenders are at increasing risk of
being criminalised, arrested, threatened and murder