Celebration of World Fisheries Day 2021

Context

The World Fisheries Day 2021 is celebrated every year on November 21, 2021 all around the world.

key-points

• The first World Fisheries Day was celebrated on November 21, 2015, during the opening of the International Fishermen’s organisation in New Delhi. 
• The day is awaiting a creative theme that incorporates the fishing industry, nature and the environment, as well as a greater emphasis on biodiversity. 
  • The theme for 2020 was 'Social Responsibility in the Fishing Value Chain.'
• Each year, it is celebrated with a unique theme that focuses on the overall development of the fishing industry, environment, and biodiversity. 
  • The theme of 2021 is yet to be announced.
• The main objective of this day is to highlight the importance of healthy oceans ecosystems and aims to ensure sustainable stocks of fisheries in the world.
• It also marks factors including the necessity of healthy oceans, balance in the ecosystem and surroundings.
• World Fisheries Day marks a significant day for the fisher-folk communities.
  • The fisher-folk communities and other related societies celebrate this special day with the hope to develop the fishing industry.
  • Some of these communities have their own unique cultural proceedings to celebrate this day. 
    • There are dance performances, plays, and a bunch of group activities. 
  • Also, well-organised bike rallies and processions are carried out to spread the message and purpose of the World Fisheries Day.
• This day is observed across the country, Karnataka is one of the states actively taking part in the sustainable activities to increase the awareness about the fisheries industry and environment issues.

Background

• In 1997, the World Fisheries Forum (WFF) was established as a forum for the World Fisheries Consortium (the World Fisheries Forum). 
  • The World Fisheries Forum also addressed creating robust possibilities for fishing communities, encouraging fisheries as a trade, social responsibility and moral grounds of justice, and defending the interests of fishing communities. 
• A global consensus document that indicated standardisation of fishing operations was signed by 18 countries. 
• It was also decided to adopt long-term initiatives to improve development methods. 
  • To make fishing a viable mode of trade and commerce, policy guidelines were issued.