Latin America\/ Brazil<\/p>\n
Why Are We in conape? <\/strong><\/p>\n The results, so far, of CONAPE have been disappointing, with highly disparate workers interests being represented, including NGOs, trade unions and associations<\/em><\/p>\n By Adriane Lobo, Adviser to the National Association of People Affected by Dams, Brazil<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n CONAPE, Brazil’s National Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture is a consultative collegiate body, integral to the basic structure of the President of the Republic’s Special Secretariat for Aquaculture and Fisheries (SEAP\/PR). Its role is to review the formulation of public policies, promote debate between different levels of government and organized civil society, and develop and support aquaculture and fisheries activities in Brazil.<\/p>\n CONAPE consists of 54 members who represent government and civil society. Workers (15 seats), the industry (10 seats) and researchers are represented. Civil society organizations are not mentioned per se, as they are considered to be covered in the three categories. The workers’ sector is composed of such a wide variety of interests that it is impossible to come to any common position.<\/p>\n In the SEAP\/PR, fishworkers are represented by the following:<\/p>\n Notably, of the worker’s organizations represented, the National Women Fishworkers Platform (ANP) is the only one that purports to represent the interests of women fishworkers.<\/p>\n The first meeting of SEAP\/PR, during 27 -29 March 2007 in Brasilia, aimed to set objectives and define how the Council should function, but it left many disappointed. It failed to establish working groups, avoided providing an overarching perspective for fisheries and aquaculture in Brazil, and fragmented the agenda of the Council into too many areas.<\/p>\n Civil society has a role in SEAP\/PR in defending the dignity and culture of fishing in Brazil, where food sovereignty and the environment provide the basic pillars that support the fisher people, fishing communities and Brazilian families that depend on artisanal fishing and aquaculture.<\/p>\n There is clearly much work to do.<\/p>\n
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