Fishermen’s rights must be central in COP-30 climate talks

Fishermen and coastal communities, among the most vulnerable to the climate crisis, must have their human rights prioritized in global climate negotiations, experts emphasized at a seminar held in Dhaka on Tuesday. 

The event, titled “Road to Belém [COP-30]: Climate Crisis – Fishermen's Struggle and Civil Society Perspectives,” was organized by COAST Foundation, World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) and FIAN International at CIRDAP Auditorium.

The seminar highlighted that climate change is depriving small-scale fishers of basic rights, including access to food, nutrition, health, education, water, housing and cultural heritage. Speakers stressed that meaningful participation of fishers and coastal communities at all levels of climate policy formulation and implementation is essential, along with timely compensation to protect their livelihoods.

COAST Foundation Executive Director M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, who moderated the seminar, underscored that fishermen play a key role in conserving and managing aquatic ecosystems and their survival must be central to climate policies. 

“Our demands go beyond environmental protection; they focus on human rights, food sovereignty, and the future of fisherfolk and coastal communities,” he said.

Keynote speaker MA Hasan presented findings from a study titled “Rising Tides, Shrinking Coasts, and Sinking Rights: Climate Crisis and Struggles of Fishermen,” urging that the human rights of fishers be prioritized in climate negotiations.

Other speakers called for stronger government consultation with climate-vulnerable communities before drafting national positions for COP-30. 

SM Manjurul Hannan Khan stressed that without grassroots input, national and international climate discussions are incomplete. 

Abi Abdullah emphasized ensuring the active participation of women fishers in local and global climate policymaking.

Officials also acknowledged gaps in current policies. 

Md. Ziaul Haque noted that fishermen’s issues were not given sufficient attention in National Adaptation Plan (NAP), but promised these would be considered in the 2027 NAP review. 

Md. Shamsuddin and Sharif Jamil highlighted threats to water bodies, fish species and transboundary river management, while fisherman representatives called for better market access, cold storage and transportation to ensure fair prices for their catch.

The seminar concluded with a call for civil society and government actors to unite in prioritizing the human rights and livelihoods of fishermen and coastal communities in the run-up to COP-30 in Belém.