People’s commission for policy proposal gathering for sustainable inland fisheries

 Gathering the proposal from Inland and lagoon fishers

The people commission was organized to take
the proposals of inland and lagoon fisher communities in order to prepare
sustainable inland fisheries policy with the purpose of engaging with
sustainable fisher industries in the country on 28 of September 2020 at
Aliyapola hall in Munnakkaraya, Negombo. The first session of the commission
was designed to gather information from fisher communities toward to
sustainable fisheries industry. It identified the issues of the inland and
lagoon fisher communities as well as origination of inland and lagoon fishing,
important of contributing into the sustainable fisheries industry, strategy for
developing the both sections and related policies were discussed in the first
part of the commission.

As well as, it allocated time to identify and
prioritize the issues which are facing lagoon and inland fishers and it
discussed the way of including the particular issues into the fisheries policy.
There were some group discussions under the themes of sustainable usage of
resource, co- management, strengthen the participatory governance, increase the
fisher production, and increase the job opportunities, compensation and tenure
rights in the first part of the event.    

Discussion with the government officers:

The second part of the commission had been
planned to discuss with the government officers in order to get the views of
the government officers who have connection with fisheries sectors. There were
some officials such as Grama Niladari, journalists, members of local
government, representatives from Lagoon development authority and Divisional
Secretariat Office, Fisheries Office and two Public Health Inspectors. The
government related representatives involved to the discussion highlighting the
issues of the fisheries sector in the area. There was a progressive discussion
toward to enhancing the sustainable fisheries policy.

Professor Uapali Amarasingha of
University of Kelaniya, Professor Kularathne, University of Kelaniya, Lawyer
Prabashini Padmasiri participated as the commissioners. Nalaka Rosairo,
Advocacy and Policy Studies and Priyankara Costa, Training and animation
officer coordinated the event representing National Fisheries Solidarity
Movement.

Around 30 participants
participated in the program which was organized in order to gather information
for the sustainable fisheries policy. Herman Kumara, National Convener of
National Fisheries Solidarity Movement also participated in the program. 
The program was organized by the Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization and
Subashini Kamalanadan, District Coordinator participated in the program.