Several members of India’s fishing community on Monday joined the World Trade Organization (WTO).WTOOpposed the proposal to rein in fisheries subsidy as it is not compatible with the demands of developing countries. Biman Jain of West Bengal said, if the subsidy for fishermen (Subsidy) is closed, their life and livelihood will stop. It should not be against fishermen, if subsidy discipline is needed then it should be for industrial fishermen. This is our main demand. The draft does not deal with concerns over food security and livelihoods of small fishermen, while it includes provisions that can help advanced countries maintain their huge contribution to long-distance fishing .
In fact, during the 12th World Trade Organization ministerial meeting that began on June 12, fishermen from across India were in Geneva (Geneva) gathered outside the United Nations Office and protested the cuts. Along with this, he told how the huge fishing giants of Europe and China are responsible for the depletion of marine resources. A group of 34 fishermen from different states of India including Gujarat (5), Maharashtra (6), Goa (1), Karnataka (2), Kerala (6), Tamil Nadu (5 ), Andhra Pradesh (4) and West Bengal (5). He has reached Geneva representing this protest.
Fishermen need subsidy for their survival
At the same time, a fisherman from Maharashtra who participated in the protest said, I am a fisherman of ninth generation and my family has been involved in fishing for centuries. During this time fishing boats of developed countries like China and Europe catch thousands of tons of fish, deposit them on the boat and they carry it. Indian fishermen need this subsidy for their survival. Thus, according to CMFRI Census 2016, the total marine fishermen population is 3.77 million, which includes 0.90 million households. They live in 3,202 fishing villages (DoF, Government of India statistical data). In this, about 67.3 percent of the fishermen’s families were in the BPL category. The average family size was 4.63 and the total sex ratio was 928 females per 1000 males.
Fisherman Jyotibua said – more women are involved in fishing
Jyotibua, a fisherman from Maharashtra, said, in our country, the number of women in fishing is more. If this subsidy is removed, then the biggest impact will be on women. If the subsidy is gone, our family will also go. However, India IUU (illegal,unreported, irregular) is in favor of supporting sustainable fishing by stopping fishing and checking harmful subsidies.
Plastic pollution reduces fish farming
During this, another Indian fisherman who protested said that they pick up plastic from the sea. Because plastic pollution reduces fish farming. He said that no other country does this (by picking up plastic). In which developing countries are deprived of adequate carvings which can harm both livelihood and food security interests. In this case a fisherman from Gujarat said that if this subsidy is removed then it will be a matter of life and death for us. We consider the ocean as our father and respect it so much that we do not even go fishing on the new moon night. If this subsidy is taken away then we cannot survive.
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