By John Dawes

Recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples is gaining momentum. Courtesy of John Dawes

The wild-caught fish sector, which accounts for around 10 percent of the total live fish sector of our industry, shares an important link with the gas, oil and mineral industries’ drilling and mining operations. It is considered an “extractive industry,” meaning that it removes (extracts) a product from nature (in our case, fish, invertebrates and aquatic plants).

This shared link means that we might become included in any agreements that are drawn up with regard to the major extractive industries. One such agreement is, in fact, currently in the pipeline and relates to the rights of indigenous peoples, something that our industry supports.

The introductory statement in a news item posted on Global Nation’s website reads: “The United Nations is looking to set up a global network by which indigenous peoples can help each other respond to violations of their rights, mainly by extractive industries.” The above statement arose from a conference attended by indigenous peoples, including representatives from some of the countries that supply the ornamental aquatic industry with wild-caught specimens.

The global network will allow indigenous peoples “to bring their cases before national and international courts, raise awareness about destructive cultural and environmental issues through media, and dialogue with investors.” In our case, the continued use of sodium cyanide (which still occurs, although it is vigorously opposed by all of our trade organizations), would be a practice that could be considered “destructive and environmental issues.”

Regarding the large corporations, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, emphasised that “It is in the interests of these corporations to respect the rights of the indigenous peoples because, if not, there will be more conflict, and more conflict means more expenses for them. Then [corporations] will be seen in a bad light. If they don’t mutually agree to terms or negotiate, it’s like they are robbing these people of their own things in their own home.”

Some countries, including Brazil, are already taking action to protect indigenous peoples’ rights. In mid-March of this year, for example, AFP reported that Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court “upheld the integrity of a vast native reserve, paving the way for the eviction of white farmers who have resisted leaving.”

It’s taken about 30 years for this ruling, which relates to the Raposa Serra do Sol reserve, to come about—but it has come about and could have massive repercussions. In fact, the farmers have “vowed to fight any attempt to force them out, and several have stock-piled arms and threatened to blow up bridges and spike roads if police moved in.”

Our sector’s activities are not likely to lead to such situations. However, mostly likely other reserves will receive similar rights, both in Brazil and other countries. Bearing in mind that such agreements are also likely to include our industry, even if it is not even mentioned in the discussions, we can’t ignore the possibility that we may to face quite a new set of trading conditions at some stage in the future. <HOME>