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2012 Food Sovereignty Prize Ceremony

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) 

Food sovereignty includes rights and self-determination for all producers, not just those on land. Fishing is an essential way of life for many communities around the world—one which is threatened by increasing corporate control, shrinking fishing rights and environmental crises. The 2012 Food Sovereignty Prize recognizes the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO), a 12,000-member organization founded in 1997, for its work to promote food sovereignty and food security in the island nation of Sri Lanka as the country emerges from a 26-year civil war.

Small-scale Sri Lankan fishers are finding their existence threatened by a post-war government intent on developing all coastal regions for tourism and have been left out of discussions for the new development, despite their reliance on the coast for their food and livelihood. NAFSO began its work in Negombo, Sri Lanka, home to both fishing communities and the booming tourist industry, conducting political seminars and trainings for affected fishing communities on their rights and how to retain and reclaim them. With its network of small-scale fishers, the organization has had success around the country in persuading the government and private developers to delay or suspend tourist development in order to protect fishers’ livelihoods.

NAFSO now also collaborates with many national and regional networks on food sovereignty, land rights and rights of fishers. NAFSO is active in numerous international networks, promoting food sovereignty and human rights and equality for all fishing communities. Its accomplishments have included working towards the adoption of the International Convention on Safety and Security of the Fisheries at the 2008 International Labor Organization, ongoing participation in the International Planning Committee on Food Sovereignty and being part of the development process of a mechanism to protect sustainable small-scale fisheries to be adopted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in 2013.