.: Consultations of communities on Government Fisheries Policy draft

Sri Lanka fisheries Ministry drafted a national fisheries and aquaculture policy and have open for public comments in the official website.

NAFSO is lobbying for bringing up a sustainable fisheries policy for the country since the year 2003. NAFSO create and submitted a people based fisheries policy draft prepared by consulting fisheries communities, schollers and other stakeholders of the sector.

A consultation meeting with district fisheries organizational activits were conducted on 4th January prior to the district level peoples consultation. Basic analysis were done by

Sri Lankan communities/stakeholders proposals to the Voluntary guideline for Securing of Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (VGSSF) by UN-FAO was also submitted by the NAFSO.

ABOUT NAFSO

NAFSO (National Fisheries Solidarity Movement), organizes fishermen to lobby the government to defend their rights and to bring about good environmental practice in coastal areas. ...NAFSO has helped a fishing community to take legal action against a proposal to build a five-star hotel on a mangrove where fish spawn."We are not against hotels, because they bring tourism and income. But 3,000 families and 15,000 fishermen use this lagoon and all of them could be affected by the developments. Only 200 would be employed by the hotel. The lagoon is our mother, and we must protect her." Jude Preman Fernando, local fisherman. At the present situation we are continuing our campaign with small scale fishermen to urge the government to take legal action against Destructive Fishing Practices around the coastal areas of Sri Lanka. View my complete profile

Praja Abhilasha Network

Consultations of communities on Government Fisheries Policy draft