THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The national conference of the National Fish workers Forum (NFF), concluded here the other day mooted an 11-point resolution including the decision to oppose Free Trade Agreements and Foreign Direct Investment in retail trade in the fisheries sector.The meet, which was attended by members from across the country, also decided to strongly oppose establishment of thermal power plants with captive ports on the coast and further object to establishment of new private ports. “The NFF will also strongly oppose the establishment of Nuclear Power Plants and convey its solidarity to the people struggling against Nuclear Power Plants at Kudankulam and Jaitapur,” it said. To ensure preferential access of small and traditional fish workers to the stock of fish in Indian waters, the NFF also decided to demand a comprehensive legislation to rationalise the fisheries sector with reference to fishing vessels, gears, efforts and fish resources. The fish workers forum will also strongly object the imposition of marine protected areas with blanket ban on fishing at Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat, Malvan in Maharashtra, Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu, Gahirmata and Bhitarkanika in Orissa and Sundarban Tiger Reserve in West Bengal; and demand consultation with and participation of the coastal fish workers in the proposition and management of ecologically-sensitive coastal areas. “The NFF further resolves to engage with the preparatory process of the 11th meeting of the parties (COP-II) of the Convention on Biodiversity scheduled in October 2012 at Hyderabad in order to seek implementation of participatory and equitable forms of conservation and management of coastal and marine resources,” the resolution said. Other resolutions adopted include demand of establishment of a separate Fisheries Ministry, as this sector involves more than 25 million people and demanded ban on Bottom Trawling and Purse-Seining in the territorial waters.
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