According to ExpressBuzz, Afsar Jafri of the Global South and T Peter of the KSMTF in a joint statement issued on Sunday said that the FTA would hit the state more severely because of the large number of people engaged in fishing, fish vending and processing.
In recent years, the fish stocks have depleted, due to over-fishing by trawlers and foreign vessels and fish prices have crashed due to imports of cheaper varieties forcing many to give up fishing, reports ExpressBuzz.
Further liberalisation in fisheries sector to increase trade will precipitate the problems of the fishing community, the statement said.
The biggest threat will come from imports from Thailand, the world’s largest exporter of farmed shrimps and Vietnam, the world’s eight largest seafood exporter.
FTA with ASEAN May Have Adverse Effect
INDIA - The Kerala Swathanthra Malsyathozhilali Federation (KSMTF) and Focus on the Global South, a regional research and campaign group, said that the Central Governments decision to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with ASEAN would have an adverse impact on the livelihoods of thousands of people engaged the fisheries and agriculture sectors, especially in the state.
