Kolkata: Small-scale fishing folk in Bengal have sought stronger protection of traditional fishing rights, climate-risk insurance, wider social security coverage and greater participation in coastal governance during a consultation for India’s National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries.Organised by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) in Diamond Harbour, the consultation brought together 70 delegates representing fishing occupations across South 24 Parganas and other coastal and estuarine communities.Delegates urged authorities to protect customary fishing rights, particularly in areas affected by coastal development and changing access to fishing grounds. They called for effective implementation of free, prior and informed consent in projects affecting fishing communities, saying fishers must be consulted before decisions on coastal infrastructure, conservation and development.Participants also sought parametric insurance to cover weather-related livelihood losses, improved medical insurance, stronger social security and easier access to welfare schemes. Faster issuance of identity cards for small-scale fishers and stronger Integrated Child Development Services support in fishing villages were also highlighted.Disaster preparedness emerged as another key concern, with delegates seeking stronger village-level disaster management committees and improved early-warning, response and relief systems. They stressed that women must be included in disaster planning, given their roles in household resilience, post-harvest work and community recovery after cyclones and floods.Women fish workers raised concerns over market access, income security, social protection and recognition of their work. Delegates called for their meaningful representation in decision-making bodies linked to fisheries, welfare and coastal governance.Earlier consultations in Bengal were held at Kakdwip Fishing Harbour, covering the Sundarbans, Kakdwip, Namkhana and Sagar, and at Kanthi–Dadan Patrabar Fish Landing Centre in East Midnapore.The recommendations will feed into the national process to develop India’s Marine National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries and support implementation of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Voluntary Guidelines for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries.The National Task Force constituted for the exercise is expected to incorporate consultation findings into the draft plan, which is scheduled for public consultation before review, finalisation and notification.
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