WFFP OFFICE BEARERS and DETAILS OF THE ORGANIZATION

World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP)
Forum Mondial des Populations de Pêcheurs
Foro Mundial Comunidades Pesqueras

Founded 21st November 1997 at New Delhi, India.

Aims : Protect, defend and strengthen the communities that depend on the fishery for their livelihood. Represent the small scale, artisanal fishers interest at the international level and play the role of global political organ of the same communities.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) are:
a) To protect, defend and strengthen the communities that depend on the fishery for their livelihood.
b) To assist member organizations to secure and improve upon the economic viability and quality of life of Fisher Peoples and their communities.
c) To recognize, support and enhance the role of women in the social, economic, political and cultural life of the fishing community.
d) To create an understanding of the resource as a common heritage of humanity and, through sustainable fishing practices, conservation, and regeneration of the marine and inland resources and ecosystems, to ensure that it is passed on to future generations.
e) To protect fishing communities, fish resources and fish habitats, such as coastal zones, watersheds and mangroves, from land-based, sea-based and air-based threats. These include displacement by tourism, pollution (including the use of the sea as a dumping ground for toxic waste), destructive industrial aquaculture, over-fishing and destructive fishing practices.
f) To establish and assert the rights of fishing communities to their customary territories in the coastal zone under their national jurisdiction for fishing and habitation.
g) To promote a legal regime that will ensure the traditional and customary rights of fishing communities to the fishery under their national jurisdiction.
h) To promote the primary role of fisher-peoples’ organizations in managing fisheries and oceans, nationally and internationally.
i) To protect food security, both locally and worldwide, by sustaining fish stocks for the future, and by preserving fish for human consumption.
j) To promote equitable representation of fisher-peoples’ organizations in all relevant regional and international fora and advocate their recognition.
k) To play an active role to ensure that states and transnational corporations comply with relevant international agreements and to oppose any trade agreements that threaten the livelihood of fishers.
l) To prevent the export of resource collapse crises and of technologies and practices that lead to these crises.
m) To provide support for national and international struggles that are consistent with the objectives of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP).
n) To encourage, assist and support Fisher Peoples to organize themselves where they have not already done so.
o) To promote the right of Fisher Peoples to social security, safe working conditions, fair income and safety at sea, as well as their recognition as seafarers.
p) To improve the communication between Fisher Peoples and the scientific community through the exchange of knowledge and science.
q) To acknowledge and enhance the unique culture of fishing communities.
r) To restore our access to the rights and powers originally granted to us in the
charter of the United Nations.

November 1997- October 2000[Origin of the Forum]-New Delhi, India

Coordinator- Thomas Kocherry, NFF, India

The functions of GS and Treasurer also was being done by the Cordinator
Assistant Coordinator- Francois Poulin



October 2000- November 2004 [2nd General Assembly]-Loctudy, France

Coordinator- Dao Gaye, Senegal

Coordinator- Pauline Tangiora, New Zeeland.

General Secretary- Harekrishna Debnath, NFF, India.

Treasurer – Seremos Kamuturaki, Uganda.

Permanent Invitee -Thomas Kocherry

November 2004- November 2007 [3rd General Assembly]-Kisumu, Kenya

Coordinator –Dao Gaye,CNPS, Senegal

Coordinator- Pauline Tangiora, New Zeeland

General Secretary- Herman Kumara, NAFSO, Sri Lanka.

Treasurer- Robert Alwarez, Basque Country, France.

Permanent Invitee- Thomas Kocherry

Since November 2007 up to date, [4th General Assembly]-Negombo, Sri Lanka

Coordinator: Sherry Pictou, E-mail: sherry.pictou@gmail.com.
Bear River First Nation, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Coordinator: Naseegh Jaffer, E-mail: naseegh@masifundise.org.za.
Masifundise, Cape town, South Africa.

General Secretary: Herman Kumara, 10 Malwatta Road, Negombo, Sri Lanka. Tel. (94) 312239750. Fax +94-314870658. Mobile: +94773184532 E-mail: hermankumara@gmail.com.
National Fisheries Solidarity Movement [NAFSO]-Sri Lanka

Treasurer: Natalia Laino Lajo, AGAMAR, Galicia, Spain.



Continental Representatives:
Asia: Harekrishna Debanth, NFF, India
Tahira Ali Sha, PFF, Pakistan
Africa: Sid’Ahamed –Mauritania
Joyce Oruko, Kenya
America: Jorge Varela Marquez

Europe: Marie Ademar, Martinique
Robert Alwarez, France.
Pacific Region: Pauline Tangiora.

Special Invitees: Thomas Kocherry, India
Dao Gaye, Senegal,



WFFP Website Address:
http://www.worldforumoffisherpeoples.blogspot.com/


Official Languages English; French; Spanish.

Number of staff members in WFFP Secretariat.
There are 2 voluntary staff work at International secretariat on full time basis.

Finance:
Members' dues. Donations and each member organization pay 250 USD annually as subscription fees.
Support from Funding Agencies for the facilitation of various events organized by WFFP.


Links with Intergovernmental bodies
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations[FAO].
International Fund for Agricultural Development[IFAD]-Member of Steering Committee of the Global Farmers Forum[FAFO] of IFAD.


NGO Relations :
International NGO/CSO Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC)
Member of the Coordinating Committee of More and Better Campaign
International Collective of Support of Fish workers[ICSF]
ECOSOC-UN body.

International events
WFFP organize global campaign on world fisheries day on the 21st November each year.
WFFP tries to implement Consensus statement of 4SSF, Bangkok

Member Organizations (36) in 24 countries and territories:

Africa: Benin, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda., and Sierra Leone

America: Canada, Honduras,

Asia: Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand., Indonesia.

Europe: France, Spain, Martinique, Guadelupe,

Pacific Region: New Zealand.

Office Bearers of WFFP