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The fishermen of Edko call for the protection of free fishing zones

The Land Center for Human rights held a meeting on Friday, 26/9/2008 at the union committee for the fishermen of Edko. The meeting was attended by more than fifty fishermen, and discussed their fishing problems, especially in the free fishing zones, which has become no more than several acres after the area of the lake was more than 37 acres. The area has been reduced due to the encroaching of the owners of large farms, and due to the Ministry of Agriculture leasing most of the areas of the lake.
The fishermen complained about the abuses of the water surface police, their ill-treatment of fishermen, and the confiscation of their small boats without legal reasons. The majority of fishermen asserted that the negligence of the Fish Wealth Authority of the lake leads to the fishing of small fish, which leads to the deterioration of the national fish wealth. The attendants also discussed the problems of the fishermen association and the absence of its role in supporting small fishing rights. The meeting discussed the rights of fishermen to work and safe fishing, and the necessity of protecting their livelihoods in the lake. The attendants demanded that the union committee of fishermen coordinate its efforts with the LCHR to enable the fishermen to protect and defend their rights and their interests, for the sake of their dignity and decent work opportunities for them and their families.