Coastal small fisher's community and local civil society demanded allocation and effective action on an urgent basis for sustainable socio-economic development of climate-vulnerable coastal fishers.

They said that we have not seen any effective measures to improve the quality of livelihood of these people who are affected and disadvantaged in the government development plan.

Due to frequent disasters, they are no longer able to fish, due to lack of adequate and practical knowledge, skills and necessary equipment related to disasters, almost everyone is at risk while fishing in the sea.

In the present reality it has become very difficult for every fisherman family to make a living, every fisherman family is burdened with debt.

All these issues were highlighted by the speakers at the seminar titled "Climate Vulnerable Coastal Fishermen; Access & Challenges in Government Social Safety Net Services".

This seminar was held on October 29 at the Sub-District Administration Conference Room of Tazumuddin sub-district , Bhola.

This seminar was organized by COAST Foundation Climate Change & Resilience Project.

Mr. Amir Hossain, Upazilla Fisheries officer presided the seminar as Chair and Mr. Shubo Debnath, Upazilla Executive Officer was the chief guest in the seminar.

Mr. Alamin, Marine Fisheries Officer, representatives of small fishermen community, trawler owner organization, small fishermen organization, journalists and others stakeholders were also present in the seminar.

M.A. Hasan of COAST Foundation moderated this seminar.

In their speech, the speakers raise various demands to the government for strengthening sustainable livelihood of this vulnerable and disadvantage communities e.g. as a minimum allocation of BDT. 8000 per fisherman family, revised existing fisherman list by excluding non-fishermen, inclusion bank loans and insurance to fishermen on easy terms on an urgent basis, bringing all types of fishing trawlers under registration and ensuring necessary and adequate safety equipment as per gov’t rules, rehabilitation of landless fisher families on government allocated khas land and ensure basic services [education, health, clean water and sanitation etc.] by creating ideal fisher villages, organize income generating skill development training for fisher families and provide input support after the training, taking initiatives to increase the capacity and efficiency of fishermen in providing and using modern technology and equipment to reach the weather news to the fishermen to reduce the accidents etc.