The FishNet Alliance General Assembly rose from an international conference in Durban, South Africa, denouncing and rejecting any form of grabbing of land waters for the production of so-called green hydrogen.
The conference also called for the urgent need for all deltas and protected areas in Africa to be declared no-mining, no-exploitation zones.
Participants noted that the rights of artisanal fishers continue to be violated by extractive projects, saying that the rights violations were fueled by the extractivism and colonialism practices.
The conference also noted that the offshore extraction activities, oil and gas infrastructure installations are dangerous and destructive of the livelihoods of coastal communities.
A communique issued at the end of the Conference noted the systemic and subtle extension of the extractivists’ colonial roots through the introduction of concepts like the Blue Economy that are going to worsen the situation of fisher folks who are already paying the price for grabbing of the resources.
The communique further stated; “Our sea and other water bodies are also under constant attack and we note the new dynamics brought by the push for renewable offshore energy.
Industrial fishers are laxly regulated and act with impunity. “Instead, artisanal fishers are intimidated and repressed by both the state and these commercial fish merchants.
“The industrial fishers are responsible for overcapacity, illegal, reported and unregulated fishing and not the artisanal fishers who fish with poles, hooks and specific net sizes.
“Coastal and fishing communities are being washed away as a result of coastal erosion and sea encroachment engendered by the climate change.
“These fisher folks’ communities are fast turning into refugees in their own countries as their territories are being washed away.
“The emerging issues of green hydrogen extends the same colonial logic of extractivism to satisfy the insatiable hunger of capitalism and only minimize the drive for a true peoples just transition.
“The mangrove forests play a big role in preserving our fisheries and building our local economies,” it stated.
FishNet Alliance said it stands in solidarity with its members and other fishers’ communities in the struggle and declare the following: “Our ocean, communities and our sociocultural wellbeing are not for sale.
“Artisanal fishers must be recognized, consulted, supported and protected and must be adequately represented in ocean and maritime policy discourse,” it stated.
The conference declaration was endorsed by the following members and affiliates: South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), Centre de Recherche et d’Action sur les Droits Économique Sociaux et Culturels (CRADESC), Centre pour la Justice Environnementale (CJE) – Togo, FishNet Alliance –Togo.
Others include, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), KZN Subsistence Fisherfolks Forum, FishNet Alliance, Mozambique, FishNet Alliance, Nigeria, Oilwatch Africa, Oilwatch International, Oil Change International, Green Connection, TYEN, Earth Life Environmental Rights Action, JVE – Côte d’Ivoire, Peace Point Development Foundation, GDA – Cameroon, and Centro para Desenvolvimento Alternativo.
