On 30 November 2023, Al-Haq sent a joint submission from a coalition of 42 international human rights organizations to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food on the Human Rights Situation of Fisherfolk and Fish Workers in the Face of Offshore Oil and Gas Activity.
Oil and gas activity on coastlines and at sea adversely impacts the human rights of small-scale fishers and fish workers. From exploration and drilling in the seabed, to coastal processing, subsea pipelines, and overseas shipping of fossil fuels—offshore oil and gas activity poses a growing threat to the rights, livelihoods, and food security of fisherfolk around the world. Offshore projects are growing in number, and today represent more than 30% of global oil and gas production.[i] Because offshore oil and gas activities are inherently difficult to monitor and manage, many adverse impacts go unnoticed and unmitigated, from leaks, well blowouts, and other emergencies, to everyday harms associated with industry operations and infrastructure.
Read the full submission here.
[i]Alana K Ayasse et al, “Methane remote sensing and emission quantification of offshore shallow water oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico”, Environ. Res. Lett. v.17 (2022).