JOINT SUBMISSION 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

The document outlines how every phase of the offshore oil and gas lifecycle—exploration, production, transport, and decommissioning—adversely impacts small-scale fisheries. It highlights specific threats such as seismic noise reducing fish catches, well blowouts causing oil spills, and the creation of exclusion zones. Additionally, it links offshore fossil fuel activity to broader climate impacts like ocean acidification and sea level rise, which further jeopardize food production. The signatories urge the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food to recommend that States conduct thorough impact assessments and suspend projects that deprive fisherfolk of their fundamental human rights.

• Offshore oil and gas activities represent more than 30% of global oil and gas production and pose significant threats to the food security and livelihoods of approximately 500 million people, as small-scale fisheries provide at least 40% of the world's total fisheries catch.
• The exploration phase utilizes seismic airgun blasting which can decrease commercial fish species catch rates by an average of 50% over thousands of square miles and harm marine life from microorganisms to whales.
• During the production phase, deeper drilling increases the risk of well blowouts and oil spills, while the establishment of exclusion zones prevents fisherfolk from accessing critical fish stocks.
• The transport of oil and gas introduces risks of spills from ruptures or collisions and the practice of “bilge dumping,” where vessels discharge hydrocarbons and toxic metals that bioaccumulate in marine life and can cause cancers in humans.
• The decommissioning phase presents ongoing risks as abandoned infrastructure and poorly plugged wells can leak radioactive materials, oil, and other toxins into the ocean.
• Offshore oil and gas activity contributes to climate change through gas flaring, methane leaks, and high energy requirements for production and transport, which in turn exacerbates ocean warming, acidification, and sea level rise.
• The signatories assert that States violate international human rights law by continuing to approve and finance offshore oil and gas projects despite foreseeable threats to the rights to food, health, work, and a healthy environment.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2023). JOINT SUBMISSION 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. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Joint-Input-to-UNSR-Right-to-Food-Offshore-Oil-and-Gas-Activity-and-Fisheries.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. JOINT SUBMISSION 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. 2023. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Joint-Input-to-UNSR-Right-to-Food-Offshore-Oil-and-Gas-Activity-and-Fisheries.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=JOINT SUBMISSION 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 |date=30 November 2023 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Joint-Input-to-UNSR-Right-to-Food-Offshore-Oil-and-Gas-Activity-and-Fisheries.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2023joint, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{JOINT SUBMISSION 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}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Joint-Input-to-UNSR-Right-to-Food-Offshore-Oil-and-Gas-Activity-and-Fisheries.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }