Tomorrow today; 2010 - unesdoc - Unesco

Images: S Jayaraj, BOBP-IGOThe Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries has gained wide acceptance and Indian fishers can read the Code in their own languagesthe Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nationsin October 1995, the Code took many years, marathon effort, formidableexpertise and substantial resources to develop. The Code isalso an outcome of several contemporary global initiatives. It iselaborate and is directed at everyone concerned with conservationof fishery resources and management and development of fisheries.However, the main weakness of the Code springs partly from itsstrength. Its language is dry and legal and does not make for easyreading or comprehension.To allow the Code to reach a critical mass of fisheries practitionersin its member countries, the BOBP and later the BOBP-IGO haveundertaken several activities to popularize it and improve its dissemination.The most significant among these activities is the translationof the Code, its concise version and the technical guidelines intoseveral Indian languages spoken in the coastal states of the countryand also into the national languages of Bangladesh (Bangla), Maldives(Dhivehi) and Sri Lanka (Sinhala). Each vernacular version is printedin large numbers to allow for distribution to the stakeholders.In addition, several workshops, seminars and interactive meetingswith stakeholders have helped to communicate with fisher communitiesand stimulate debate and discussion about the meaning ofthe Code and the implementation of its technical guidelines. Theseinteractions have thrown up innovative ideas on adaptation ofthe Code to meet the local needs of communities. It has also beensuggested that the Code should be made a part of the school curriculum.A special syllabus or a supplementary school programmecould be considered for coastal areas, with a focus on fisheries. Thefundamentals of conservation, management and responsible fisheriescould be taught in an interesting way. Since this is already beingdone in Maldives, that country’s experience could be of interest toother countries in the region.Communication the key to successful educationThe BOBP and the BOBP-IGO have, over the years, found that communicationcan help improve the understanding of perceptions, worldviews and frameworks of logic. Appropriate awareness-building canbridge differences by building new structures of learningon traditional foundations of knowledge. 12 In the courseof developing communication tools for small-scale fishers,several lessons have emerged:• The success of any programme for development ofsmall-scale fisheries largely depends on the abilityof fisheries agencies to inform, communicate with,motivate and mobilize fisher communities• Fishers are aware of the dangers of overfishing, butthey need education and orientation on resourcedepletion trends and patterns, fish behaviour,management methods and tools• The connection between development and data/information is obvious, but a strong disconnectbetween the two characterizes fisheries in mostdeveloping countries• Gaps in fisheries information should be plugged, toenable better analysis and decision-making• Involving fishers in information gathering may leadto more reliable data• Messages blended with popular forms ofentertainment in vernacular languages reachaudiences more rapidly than meetings andworkshops.The diverse initiatives undertaken by the BOBP andthe BOBP-IGO show that education and awareness arefundamental tools for enterprise building among poorcommunities. Enterprise development requires educationto instil knowledge, which does not necessarilylead to resolution of problems, but helps in promotingbetter understanding of the issues and also in findingsolutions. Raised awareness leads to active local participationin the resource management process, which isa precursor to a participatory approach to fisheriesmanagement.[ 75 ]