Declaration: We, scientists, researchers, policymakers, fish farmers and members of civil society, having participated in the Workshop: Small Indigenous Freshwater Fish Species: Their Role in Poverty Alleviation, Food Security and Conservation of Biodiversity organized jointly by the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) and the Inland Fisheries Society of India (IFSI), from 23 to 25 February, 2010 at the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore, Kolkata;
Being aware that the 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity;
Recognizing the importance of conserving biodiversity of small indigenous freshwater fish species in the context of climate change, sustainable development and aquatic biodiversity;
Taking note of the significant but invisible contribution of small indigenous freshwater fish species to culture and capture fishery production in India;
Being aware of the importance of small indigenous freshwater fish species as an affordable source of nutrition, particularly of micronutrients, to the rural poor;
Taking note of research and good practices in relation to small indigenous freshwater fish species, aquatic biodiversity and poverty alleviation, by national and international agencies;
Recommend the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India; Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India; State fisheries ministries and departments, and state environment and forest ministries and departments, civil society organizations and other relevant and interested parties to:
- Conserve small indigenous freshwater fish species by protecting their natural habitat;
- Promote sustainable use of small indigenous freshwater fish species in both capture and culture fishery systems for enhancing nutritional security of the rural poor, providing greater employment opportunities;
- Actively examine the feasibility of incorporating small indigenous freshwater fish species into existing polyculture practices through research, development and extension programmes;
- Target studies on contribution of small indigenous freshwater fish species from different aquatic resources and farming systems;
- Evaluate the role of small indigenous freshwater fish species in nutritional security of vulnerable groups, such as pregnant and lactating women and children;
- Ensure that policy and legislation at different levels on capture fisheries, aquaculture and biodiversity conservation addresses the development needs and conservation requirements of small indigenous freshwater fish species;
- Protect access rights of local communities, especially women, to small indigenous freshwater fish species, particularly through appropriate policies and legislation that take into consideration the local socioeconomic, cultural and institutional context;
- Document and protect traditional knowledge and farmers’ innovation with regard to use of small indigenous freshwater fish species resources.