FIFO urges UN to recognise fisheries as a separate sector

Visakhapatnam: The Federation of Indian Fisher Organizations (FIFO) has urged the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations to recognise fisheries as a distinct sector separate from agriculture due to its unique operational, occupational, and governance characteristics.

Arjilli Dasu, general secretary-FIFO and J. Vincent Jain, president and CEO, said that fishing is one of the most hazardous occupations. “It is conducted in unpredictable marine environments and exposed to risks such as severe weather, vessel accidents, and extended periods at sea. Unlike agriculture, which is land-based and supported by well-established institutional frameworks, fisheries require specialised knowledge in marine ecology, navigation, vessel safety, ocean governance, fisheries management, and maritime regulations,” they said.

“Despite these fundamental differences, fisheries are often governed under agriculture-dominated ministries and institutional structures. This frequently results in inadequate policy attention and insufficient budget allocation. This also often leads to weak representation of fisheries professionals in decision-making positions and development programmes that do not adequately address the realities and challenges faced by fishing communities,” said Dasu and Vincent.

A significant concern of the FIFO representatives is that many senior policymakers and administrators responsible for fisheries governance come from agricultural or forestry backgrounds and may lack practical understanding of fisheries-related issues. Consequently, fisheries projects and schemes are sometimes designed without sufficient consideration of fisher safety, operational risks, infrastructure requirements, post-harvest systems, and market challenges.