Indian Fishermen Express Concern Over New WTO Pact ff

Traditional fishermen, who are already facing a plethora of problems, including last year’s tsunami devastation, are likely to face more trouble from a WTO pact which is expected to be inked at Hong Kong in December this year.

The Non Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) agreement proposed by the G 8 nations who are trying to push it through at the Hong Kong WTO Ministerial meeting will hit the fishermen hard, according to National Fishermen's Forum Chairman Hare Krishna Debunath.

The agreement proposes zero-to-zero per cent duty on imports of non-agricultural products including gems and jewelry, computers, leather and toys apart from marine produce.

If the pact, which is strongly opposed by the fishing community, comes through, developed countries importing fish mainly from Asia would be buying quality products like tuna, shrimp, lobsters, crabs, seer, mackerel and other white meat and soft bone fish at lower rates while dumping cheap varieties in the Indian market, Mr. Debunath said.

Imported fish, packed in cans and dumped by MNCs in the Indian market, may seriously affect the livelihood of local fishermen who mostly sell the produce directly without any value addition.

Currently, the country was allowing imports of only specific variety of marine products at a higher duty. But once the market was open up, there would be a flood of fish imports affecting the interests of the traditional fishermen, he claimed.

The agreement, leading to sectoral opening of the Indian market, was a double-edged sword. While India cannot enter the markets in advanced countries with products like computers and electrical appliances, it would lose heavily on import duties on marine products.

“We oppose the inclusion of marine products in NAMA discussion at WTO forum. We have urged the UPA Government to exclude it from the pact and protect the traditional fishermen” he said.

“The countries marine products exports had already been hit hard due to barriers like anti-dumping duty slapped by the developed countries. The exports fell to Rs 6000 crore last year from Rs 8000 crores the previous year,” he indicated.

On November 21, which is observed as World Fish Farmers Day, the forum would mobilize traditional fishermen and their families in all states and landing centers to protest against the proposed pact, he added.