World Fisheries Day – 21 November 2020
Every year November 21 marks a great day for the fisherfolk community. The seas around the world offer a great variety of food, the staple fish being the predominant one among them. Many people consider a daily fish diet as their staple food, especially the ones residing in coastal belts. But recognition for the seas that offer so many varieties in edible fishes plus the fish farming communities and the fisherfolk is very sparse.
Sustainability is a big question in the fishing industry, and respective governments retain norms to help the fisher communities to make a profitable livelihood from the fishing industry. Here is an article that throws focus on the history of World Fisheries Day, its significance, themes, celebrations and essential FAQ’s. Let’s take a tour into each section with greater detail.
World Fisheries Day – History
A forum for World Fisheries consortium was established as early as 1997. This forum was famously called WFF or World Fisheries Forum. Under this forum, many participants from all over the world took part actively. As many as 18 countries signed a global consensus document marking standardization of practices. This further led to sustainable measures for marking higher developmental practices and policy guidelines to make fishing viable as a means of trade and commerce.
Some of the common grounds of operations underlining the WFF are creating robust opportunities for the fishing communities, enduring fisheries as a trade, social responsibility and moral grounds of justice, preserving the ancient history of the fishermen and the harvesting communities, consolidation of fishers etc.
The first time World Fisheries Day was celebrated was on November 21, 2015. It was the day when the grand opening of the International Fishermen’s organization was held in New Delhi, India. The memories of WFF in 1997 lay etched in the pages of history because it wrote a new form of working pattern for the fisherfolk community. They were entitled to more considerable pride in their profession; they earned solidarity from supporting entities on the global platform and finally saw unity in their different departments serving the fisheries.
Significance of World Fisheries Day
Under most circumstances, seafood and fishes are customary food for many people across the globe. People dwelling in the coastline regions and closer to the sea consume fish as part of their staple food. As part of World Fisheries Day, it marks an observance of the neglected community and highlighting their efforts. The assessment also engages the performance metrics over the last year and how they can cope up with emerging trends.
The day also sets future goals and milestones for the trade. It brings together under one roof, not just the fishing department, but many allied units that have co-relations with the fisheries. The ocean division and subsidiaries of the Environmental Defence Fund took up more significant concerns for their streak of positivity in their operations.
The fishing industry is plagued with many issues at hand. Some of the prominent ones are an overgrowth of blue, green algae in seas and oceans, oils spills and pollution in marine bodies, plastic encroachments and toxic mixture of chemicals into seawater. These reasons have made the survival of the fishing industry very difficult.
World Fisheries Day is a necessity for the trade as on today as the industry faces a lack of proper guidelines in investment matters. Due to global warming, the temperature of water bodies is undoubtedly going to see a rise. This is undoubtedly going to harm the lives of the fish population. Proper management of related factors can lead to a balance of conditions that will allow the sustainable fishing industry to thrive and survive. The sector also faces of extinction of some of the prominent types of fish.
Due to over-rated commercialization and exploitation, many varieties of fish are not available today. This also has a direct effect on the availability of fishing grounds. When species deplete in water bodies, the associated fishing ground poses a high risk. Rejuvenating these breeds and allowing fishing grounds to hold stocks and secure themselves for generations to come.
All those communities that stay very close to the water bodies like coastal belts, villages and rural areas have access to water almost every day. We should keep our sources of water clean and tidy and avoid pollution, both from domestic agents and external factors.
World Fisheries Day 2020 Themes
The World fisheries Day for the year 2018 were celebrated with a theme titled “Partnership and innovation for resilient climate fisheries”.
The year 2019 put an extended focus that stretched to the year 2022 with the theme “2022 ka Hai Sapna, Kisan Ki Aay Ho Dugna – Sankalp Se Siddhi”.
The theme was lamented on our national language Hindi. The year 2020 is awaiting an innovative theme that may hold a right blend of the fishing industry, nature and environment plus a greater focus on biodiversity.
World Fisheries Day Celebrations
The fisherfolk communities celebrate the day with the hope of a brighter future for the fishing industry. Standard modes of parties include rallies and marches. Through well-organized bike rallies and car marches, people bring to light one of the less talked about professions. The fish industry is a vast trade and commerce segment that has many underlying departments and a typical working blend among them is a sure shot necessity.
These smooth functioning processes need training, proper management and expertise to handle different internal systems. Hence core workshops and hands-on training with a focus on internal operations mark a significant event for the day. Meetings on public platforms and discussion panels are other tribes of activity lists held on the day.
On a lighter note, the fisherfolk communities have their own unique and distinguished cultural proceedings within their community. This includes dance and song performances plus drama shows. The government organizes an exclusive exhibition for the benefit of many traders in the fishing industry. Music shows and demonstration led events also form essential functions of the day.
Conclusion
About one-third of the fishing ground resources are on the verge of complete depletion as they have been used more than their capacities. This has led to an alarming call to stop over conducting fishing activities and to bring a transformation in the industry. Replenishment of lives into these sources to enrich them once gain is a pending task.
Water bodies need to be cared for, they should be kept clean and tidy, and human activities close to fishing grounds should be well maintained. Fishing is not a modern-day profession. It’s an ancient practice and people put in a lot of sweat and hard work to harvest fish from seas and oceans.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is World Fisheries Day?
Every year November 21 is celebrated as World Fisheries Day to look at the sustainability factors of the fishing industry. It also focuses on the surrounding circles like maintaining the balance in ecosystem and surroundings etc.
2. Why is World Fisheries Day celebrated?
Fish is a vital source of food and a significant source of income for the country. Lakhs of fisherfolk communities work hand in hand to yield great produce and look into fish variety and diversity.
3. What is the theme for World Fisheries Day 2020?
The theme for 2020 is not announced as yet.
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