Indian Ocean Tsunamis Devastate Fisherfolk
Asian fisherfolk have been the most affected by the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea tsunamis of 26 December 2004 that were caused by the Sumatran Earthquake (see below for selected data and information on damage and casualties and assessments of needs for reconstruction).
Fisherfolk are amongst the poorest people in the region. They have lost not only many loved ones but also their livelihoods, homes as well as their fishing gear and boats. Many are fearful of returning to the sea and suffer from extreme post-disaster trauma.
The aquatic diversity of the region has also been devastated by the tsunami. Coastal fisheries have been depleted. Coral reefs have been destroyed by the force of the waves and are now choked with silt. Mangrove swamps and coastal breeding grounds for fish and other aquatic organisms have been severely damaged. It will take time for these wounds to heal.
Fisherfolk have the expertise to be the primary managers of the health of the coastline and rehabilitating the fishery. When given the opportunity they manage the shoreline, mangroves and coastal fishing zones - the source of most of the aquatic diversity and health of the oceans.
For reasons of their extreme poverty and their central role in restoring the marine ecosystem, the massive Aid effort must work with fisherfolk. It must support the organisations of fisherfolk and use their expertise to ensure the restoration of their livelihoods, re-equipping them for sustainable artisanal fishing, and, in the long-term, rehabilitating the coastline and marine fisheries.
As many of the reports below highlight, rehabilitation of livelihoods and rebuidling and repairing boats, fishing gear, landing areas and so on are priorities. So too is ensuring that fisherfolk have a fair share of the market and can add value through small-scale processing. Importantly, fisherfolk require assurances that their rights to land, beach access and artisanal fishing grounds - for housing, boat handling, fishing, processing and marketing - are protected. In addition, future safety at sea and disater preparedness measures need to be institututed. The focus on fisherfolk provides opportunities to improve their future.
On this page are a selected number of papers, press releases, links and information about the disaster, and selected data and information on damage and casualties and assessments of needs for reconstruction. These emphasise the need for improving the quality of aid for the long-term reconstruction effort that must focus on restoring the means of livelihoods to devastated fisherfolk communities....
...and if you want to contribute directly, you can donate on-line to Via Campesina, the global farmers movement, that is raising funds that will be provided directly for post tsunami reconstruction through fisherfolk and their organisations.
Tsunami and Fisherfolk - UK NGOs call for action by UK government and EU to work through the organisations of fisherfolk: and no dumping of decommissioned EU fishing boats on tsunami affected communities. Part of...:
"Tsunami, Mangroves and the Market Economy" by Devinder Sharma provides an analysis of the increased negative impact of the tsunami on fisherfolk due to the impostion of neoliberal policies in India (10 Jan 2005)
The article by John Kurien, Centre of Development Studies, "Tsunamis and a Secure Future for Fishing Communities" provides an agenda for action post tsunami that will give hope to fisherfolk in the region. (Updated 10 Jan 2005).
Guardian Newspaper article "Corrupted defence" by Mari Marcel Thekaekara, shows how the tsunami crisis facing fisherfolk in Tamil Nadu is magnified by violations of coastal regulations and beachside development - and the need to work through the organisations of fisherfolk (5 Jan 2005)
Pesticide Action Network - Asia/Pacific: please help support fisherfolk and peasant communities in their own relief and rehabilitation from the Tsunami disaster. Links to reports of reconstruction needs for fisherfolk communities in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Tha