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- Edco Fishermen Association
An absent role….and unsolved problems
Conditions in Lake Edco are getting even worse with the spread of modern fisheries that eliminate the free surface available to traditional fishermen. The construction of large-scale fisheries along the shore of the lake constitutes a barrier obstructing the way of small fishermen to reach the waters.
The number of large-scale fisheries along the shore of Edco Lakes increases in contravention of the government decree No.329/1985, which specifies only eight areas for the construction of such fisheries and law No.124/1983, regulating the fishing industry. Furthermore, the process also implies environmental destruction, with the growth of weeds and bamboo on the surface of the lake. Paper and chemicals' factories also dispose of their industrial waste in the lake, leading to water pollution and threatening human life and natural resources.
In view of the above, the LCHR reports on the fishermen co-operatives, with special emphasis on the role of Edco Fishermen Association. The aim of this report is to show the inability of the association to defend the interests of its members as a result of administrative restrictions imposed on its activities.
According to the LCHR report, the number of Edco fishermen is estimated at 3.5 million, producing, 400,000 tons of fish per year. However, the associations of those fishermen suffer from various administrative and legal restrictions. For instance, the law No.123/1983 restricts membership of these associations to local and state-owned enterprises, and deprives individual fishermen of forming associations of their own, in contradiction with Egypt's Constitution and the international standards of human rights. In addition, the law stipulates that the Cooperative Union of Fish Resources falls under direct supervision of the General Authority of Fish Resources that follows the Minister of Agriculture. This provision means that the government directly controls the activities of the fishermen associations through the supervision of the General Authority of Fish Resources. For instance, all local Community Development associations fall under the supervision of the Regional Federation of Public Associations that follows the Ministry of Social Affairs. We, therefore, wonder why it is forbidden to establish independent associations to create some kind of independence for the non-governmental activities.
The report has also deals with the elections of Edco association and the circumstances that accompanied this event, when nomination for the board of directors was first opened to candidates in mid April 2000.
There were 24 candidates, all were fishermen, but four of them withdrew. Eleven candidates opposed the policy of the "General Authority of Fish Resources”, especially on how it runs the lakes, while there were 9 candidates who had been board members for more than 20 years!
Among the observations mentioned in the report:
· When nomination began in mid April 2000, the board of directors passed a decision for the registration of more than 300 new members in the general assembly, according to fishermen, although they joined the association for less than a year. They did so in order to guarantee the majority of votes, but other candidates and some of the fishermen sent a letter to the chief of the Western Area, superintending elections, in protest against this forgery.
· Similarly, the board of directors blackmailed other fishermen who do not have a license - and, thus, cannot be registered as stipulated by the law - registering only those who would vote for them in the elections.
· The board of directors also kept secret the lists of those who have the right to vote until the day of the elections.
The report shows some important recommendations in order to activate fishermen associations and to enable them to play their role. The most important recommendation is amending the law No. 124 /1983 as it contradicts the Egyptian Constitution and the international standards for human rights, particularly the provisions related to the freedom of association and peaceful assembly.
The LCHR believes that the law should not obstacle the activities that could improve the living standard of citizens. Instead, it should encourage and promote such activities in a way that enables associations to achieve their goals.
· Although there is some development in the field of fishing, the fishing regulations, which specify the methods and tools of the industry, need to be more flexible in order to catch up with recent changes.
· In order to guarantee a rise in real income and protect people’s health, we should insure that fish is healthy and unpolluted. This could only be attained if there were adequate measures, keeping environment clean and unpolluted to protect our resources and the health of both fishermen and consumers.
· The right to equal opportunity for all fishermen requires the enforcement of regulations and measures against monopoly and to guarantee a legal competitive environment for the welfare of fishermen.
The points outlined above may be regarded as broad guidelines for the promulgation of a new law to achieve our development goals as well as to guarantee equal opportunity for all.
Nevertheless, the proposed amendments should deal with the following problems:
· It is obviously clear that the law No.124/1983 failed to regulate the fishing industry. That is why the executive authorities passed numerous decrees to deal with the problem. Nevertheless, a concise and adequate law is required to accommodate with the growing changes in this field, taking into account the technological developments and the rising number of fishing boats operating in the lake.
· The state strategy for development of this industry has been expanded to include the canals, the River Nile and the large-scale fisheries. Such a development reflects itself in new problems that the previous law cannot settle.
· The conclusion of the report asserts that organizing the fishing industry in Egypt needs more attention from the policy makers who are interested in improving this sector and the fishermen’s conditions. In addition, many problems need reforms according to the fast changing socioeconomic conditions in Egypt.
· Therefore, LCHR suggests some recommendations that, we believe, should be implemented. The recommendations mainly refer to the protection of fishermen's right to form associations, such as:
- The amendment of the law No.123/1983, the statutes and its annexed administrative decrees, which contradict the Egyptian Constitution and the right to association and peaceful assembly.
- To recognize the right of the fishermen of Edco to form their own association and their independence from the semi-official fishermen association in Edco. Also, other fishermen should have the right to establish their own association to defend their rights and to improve their conditions.
Finally, the LCHR urges the Minister of Agriculture, members of the People’s Assembly, members of the municipal councils and those concerned with the fishing industry in Egypt to discuss our recommendations and to act accordingly. Their aim should be to protect the rights of fishermen enshrined by the Egyptian Constitution and the international human rights instruments.