Bengal fishers flag threat to traditional fishing rights, demand climate insurance

Kolkata, Oct 11 (UNI) Protection of traditional fishing rights, climate-risk insurance, stronger social security and greater participation in coastal development decisions emerged as key demands from small-scale fishers in West Bengal during consultations for India's National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries. At Diamond Harbour, 70 delegates representing diverse small-scale fishing occupations across South 24 Parganas district and other coastal and estuarine communities on Friday highlighted challenges related to fishing rights, welfare access, disaster preparedness and women's participation in fisheries policy and coastal governance. The union Fisheries Department is spearheading the community consultation process across the coastal state and UTs,…