The Federation of Indian Fisher Organizations (FIFO) has appealed to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations to formally recognise fisheries as a separate sector from agriculture, highlighting its distinct operational, occupational, and governance characteristics.
Hazardous Nature of Fisheries
Arjilli Dasu, general secretary of FIFO, and J. Vincent Jain, president and CEO, emphasised that fishing is one of the most hazardous occupations. They noted that fishing activities take place in unpredictable marine environments, exposing workers 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.
Inadequate Policy Attention
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. It also 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, according to Dasu and Vincent.
Concerns Over Policymaker Expertise
A significant concern raised by 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.
