The Ocean, Extractivism and Renewable Energy

FishNet Alliance – a network of fishers across the coast of Africa, held her General Assembly
and Conference on Thursday 22 nd August 2024 in Durban South, South Africa on the theme:
“Ocean, Extractivism and Renewable Energy”. The gathering was attended by members of the
Alliance from South Africa, Senegal, Togo, Nigeria, Mozambique, including new members from
Uganda, South Sudan and Cameroon as well as Oilwatch Africa and Oilwatch International
members and allies from 20 countries.

The General Assembly and Conference observed that:

The rights of artisanal fishers continue to be violated by extractive projects. These
rights violations are fueled by extractivism and colonialism practices. The offshore extraction activities and oil and gas infrastructure installations are dangerous and destructive of the livelihoods of coastal communities. The systemic and subtle extension of the extractivists’ colonial roots through the introduction of concepts like the Blue Economy are going to worsen the situation of fisher folks who are already paying the price for grabbing of our resources. Our sea and other water bodies are also under
constant attack, and we note the new dynamics brought aboutby the push for renewable
offshore energy. Industrial fishers are laxly regulated and act with impunity. Instead, artisanal fishers are
intimidated and repressed by both the state and these commercial fish merchants. The
industrial fishers are responsible for overcapacity, illegal, reported and unregulated
fishing and not the artisanal fishers who fish with poles, hooks and specific net sizes.

Coastal and fishing communities are being washed away due to coastal erosion and
sea encroachment engendered by climate change. These fisher folks’ communities are
fast turning into refugees in their own countries as their territories are being washed
away. The emerging issues of green hydrogen extend the same colonial logic of extractivism to
satisfy the insatiable hunger of capitalism and only minimize the drive for a true people’s transition. The mangrove forests play a significant role in preserving our fisheries and building our local
economies.
FishNet Alliance stands in solidarity with its members and other fishers’ communities in the
struggle and declares the following: Our ocean, communities, and sociocultural well-being are not for sale: Artisanal fishers must be recognized, consulted, supported, and protected and must be
adequately represented in ocean and maritime policy discourse. We denounce and reject any form of grabbing of our waters for the production of so-
called green hydrogen. All deltas and protected areas in Africa must be declared no-mining, no-exploitation
zones.

This declaration is endorsed by the following members and affiliates:

1. South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA)
2. Centre de Recherche et d’Action sur les Droits Économique Sociaux et Culturels
   (CRADESC)
3. Centre pour la Justice Environnementale (CJE) – Togo
4. FishNet Alliance -Togo
5. Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)
6. KZN Subsistence Fisherfolks Forum
7. FishNet Alliance, Mozambique
8. FishNet Alliance, Nigeria
9. Oilwatch Africa
10. Oilwatch International
11. Oil Change International
12. Green Connection
13. TYEN
14. Earth Life
15. Environmental Rights Action
16. JVE – Côte d’Ivoire
17. Peace Point Development Foundation
18. GDA – Cameroon
19. Centro para Desenvolvimento Alternativo