Fishers speak on climate impact on maritime at Global COP16 conference

By Samuel Ogunsona

Small-scale fishers will speak at COP 16 scheduled for October to address impact of climate change on maritime economy.

The event holds on October 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

The fishers are advocating the crucial need for a human rights-based approach to achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets in coastal and marine conservation.

As vital stewards of the ocean, coasts, rivers, and lakes, fisher peoples’ rights and traditional knowledge are not being adequately recognized or incorporated into the current implementation process.

The press conference aims to highlight their importance and offer solutions for equitable and effective conservation efforts.

The discussion will focus on the centrality of fisher peoples in biodiversity conservation success, challenges in protecting their rights and traditional management, the need for equitable sharing of nature’s benefits, and recommendations for incorporating a human rights-based approach into the implementation process.

Speakers at the press conference include Lider Gongora of C-CONDEM/WFFP, Zoila Bustamante of WFF/ULAPA, Minfer Perez Carmona, Lazaro Mecha Aracelly Jimenez, and Jesus Chaves Alfonso Raylan of Sindicato de pescadores de Panamá/WFFP.

This event is part of the COP 16 conference, which aims to accelerate momentum on biodiversity action and translate the Biodiversity Plan into national action.