Monday, May 9, 2016

Stop arresting fishermen, says NFF

The World forum of Fisher Peoples, Co- ordination Committee meeting held at Bangkok, the Capital of Thailand during 22nd – 29th April 2016. The meeting was presided over by shri. Muhammad Ali shah (Pakistan), Mrs. Nadine orchid Nembhard (Belise) both Co –Chairpersons of WFFP in the Presence of Mr. Mogamad Naseegh Jaffer (South Africa) Secretary General of WFFP. The meeting was attended by Continental representatives including M.Ilango (India), Mr. Herman Kumara wijethunge (Srilanka), Mrs. Christiana Saiti Louwa (Kenya), Mr. Jorge Adalberto Varela Marquez (Honduras),Mr. Moises osorto Caceres (Honduras), Mr. Sid’ Ahmed Abeid (Mauritanie), Mrs. Natalia Laino Lojo (Spain), Mr. Edmund Arthur Bull (Canada),Mr. Alessandro Matino Carlo Fossi (France) and other.

Among various decisions and resolutions the resolution proposed by the delegates of South Asian countries also resolved unanimously. The resolution follows : -

The World Forum of Fisher Peoples’ Coordinating Committee[WFFP CC] urge Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lankan national governments to give up the practice of arresting, harassing, killing and continuing arrest of innocent fishermen when they are crossing the IMBL, during their fishing activities for their livelihood, taking in to consideration the UNCLOS, because the intention of fishermen is just to fish for their livelihood if they are not involved in anti social activities like drug, arm and human trafficking.

It is agreed at the article 73 of the UNCLOS that, neighboring countries neither arrest nor punishing the fishermen during fishing. This shall apply to South Asian region hence it is important the countries in the region respect their own agreement and help fishermen.

Hence, the WFFP CC urge to organizational bodies and specialized agencies of the United Nation systems coming under the UNCLOS, should take immediate steps to release fish workers once cross the boarders and the arresting, harassments, killing and continue the jail in neighboring countries. The WFFP CC also resolves to take up matters to the Indian, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lankan national governments and to the attention of UNHRC...

WFFP CC urge that the trans boarder issue should take up at the upcoming SAARC head of Governments meeting to be held at Pakistan in November, 2016 for seek permanent solution. Hence, the SAARC foreign ministers planning meeting also should take this issue forward for discussion and recommend better proposal for find solution to release arrest fishermen when they cross the boarders and also to their boats and fishing gears.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Sri Lanka: 1200 Lankan fishermen held in five years


About 1,000 Sri Lankan fishermen were arrested by the Coast Guard in the last five years on charges of illegally entering and fishing in Indian waters, a senior official said on Thursday. A total of 1,205 Sri Lankan fishermen and 241 fishing boats were arrested in the last five years, Inspector General Satya Prakash Sharma said, addressing a press conference. Listing the actions of the Coast Guard under his command, the officer, who is set to retire this month, said 2,391 Indians and 1,048 Sri Lankans were repatriated in the last five years. Earlier, a coffee table book on the Coast Guard Region (East) was released at its Air Station in Meenambakkam. During the last five years, personnel of the Coast Guard have saved the lives of 842 persons during its mission.

Update on Indian IUU fishing in Sri Lankan waters


(IUU = Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated)



 


Date

Location

Vessel

No.

Tamil Nadu Fishworkers

Arrested

Remand

Released without charge

28.04.16

Mannar

Vallams

03

21

21

--

06.04.16

Jaffna

Vallam

01

09

09

--

04.04.15

Jaffna

Trawler

01

04

04

--

March

Jaffna / Mannar / Puttalam

Trawlers & Vallams

11

74

--

74

February

Mannar

Trawlers

02

12

--

12

January

Jaffna / Mannar / Puttalam

Trawlers

06

24

--
24

December

Jaffna / Mannar / Mullaitivu

Trawlers & Vallams

07

53

--
53

November

Jaffna / Mannar

Trawlers & Vallams

12

59

--
59

October

Jaffna / Mannar

Trawlers & Vallams

13

93

--

93

September

Jaffna / Puttalam

Trawlers & Vallams

09

44

--

44

 

 

 

65

393

30

359