Oppose fish subsidy withdrawal proposals at WTO, protect small fisherfolk: BMS to govt

The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh on Monday said it opposes the proposals in the World Trade Organization on banning the subsidies to fishermen in the name of Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by the unorganised sector’s fishermen as it will hamper the livelihoods of marine fishers living in 10 coastal states in India.

The trade union said that it is the organised sector’s fishing which catches fish through mechanised trawlers and huge ships particularly by the developed countries and they are to be blamed for depleting marine fishing reserves

“If government of India yields to the mounting pressures of developed countries in banning fishing subsidies, it will hamper the livelihoods of millions of marine fishers living in 10 coastal states,” BMS said in a statement.


The statement comes in the run-up to the WTO’s ministerial conference next week in Geneva where countries are likely to finalise disciplines to curb subsidies for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing, and over-fishing and over-capacity

In India, most traditional fishermen are small fishers who follow norms like fishing ban period during breeding season.

“Apart from this, small fishers are allowed to catch fish within the 12 nautical miles only. It is no way hampers the reserves,” it said, adding that the BMS units are raising their voice against developed countries’ conspiracy.

Emphasising that the small fishermen of India and other developing countries have many limitations and low capacities, and not responsible for the depletion of marine reserves, it said: “BMS questions the United Nations and WTO which are responsible for over fishing deep sea”.

In India, the government is allowing big trawlers and huge ships for deep sea fishing which BMS and other various fishermen associations, and the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch have opposed.

Hence, BMS demands the government of India to vehemently oppose the WTO proposals on withdrawal of fishing subsidies and protect the interests of millions of traditional small fishermen and save their livelihoods, according to the statement.