“As we celebrate World Day of Fishing, and we hope to raise awareness on the situation of fishermen and create fundamental changes in their lives, we turn to international agencies to unite their efforts, leaving aside differences, antagonism and rivalry to develop a roadmap towards widespread ratification and implementation of international instruments.” This was part of the Message spread by Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson, on the occasion of the World Day of Fishing, which is celebrated today, 21 November.
“This cooperation,” added the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, “should be pursued at the global, regional, national and local levels and ensure the involvement of civil society, industry and sellers, NGOs, trade unions and the church".
“Working together,” urged Cardinal Turkson, “we can stop the trafficking of human beings and forced labor at sea, improve working conditions and security and combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, hoping to create a sustainable fisheries sector from a social, environmental and commercial point of view. It is a great challenge,” he concluded, quoting Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium, “that it is also the one hope we have to reaffirm ‘the universal respect and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms’ in the global fishing industry.”
Click here for the entire text of the message in Italian