The primary aim of this tribunal series was to engage with coastal fishing communities to understand their perspectives and opinions on the Blue Economy framework and its implementation. These Independent People’s Tribunals were designed to document and analyze the communities’ lived experiences regarding the implications of the Blue Economy. Tribunals were held physically in different countries but had to be completed in an online format. This hybrid format allowed not only national audiences to participate but also fishing communities from various regions within each country.
The narratives presented in each tribunal included:
- Country Report by the Research team
- Case Study presentations
- Testimonials by coastal fishing community representatives
- Expert presentations on geo-political issues, finances, and related sectoral issues
As a result of these tribunals, global and regional fishers’ forums gained a stronger understanding of the blue economy’s long-term implications, leading them to reevaluate and shift the direction of blue economy discussions in public dialogues at all levels.
“The Indian Ocean Tribunal series stands vindicated in its approach to include and recognise the coastal fishing communities. The World Bank and many other international institutions that have pushed the frame of BE have often ignored the fishworkers as communities that have lived with the oceans, and as stakeholders. The tribunal is the first step by the communities in these countries to engage with and critique this alien framework…”
Nadine Nembhard, Secretary General, World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP)
