Fishermen in murky waters

The National Fish Workers Forum (NFF) has demanded the incorporation of fisherman's legitimate aspirations and demands while drafting policies and legislations concerning fisheries
Abhish K Bose Delhi

The National Fish Workers Forum (NFF) has demanded the incorporation of fisherman's legitimate aspirations and demands while drafting policies and legislations concerning fisheries. They alleged that the proposed Marine Fisheries Regulation and Management Bill (MFRM) and Traditional Marine and Coastal Fisher folk (Protection of Rights) Bill is narrow in its objectives and lacks visionary approach towards management of marine resources.

"The (MHRM) Bill contradicts central government appointed Murari Committee's recommendations which had clearly stated that the traditional and small scale fishermen and their fishing vessels were sufficient to exploit the resources in the Indian waters and that we do not require foreign fishing vessels. This factor is totally ignored by the draft MFRM Bill" says Matanhy Saldanha of the NFF. Saldanha also said the second Bill does not take into cognisance the ground realities of Indian coastal villages. So this Bill should be kept in abeyance till coastal communities are consulted.

The NFF also spoke of West Bengal fishermen who were displaced from Jambudwip Island for the mangrove forest conservation. "Nearly 25,000 people of the fishing community are thrown out of the island and from their traditional livelihood. We spoke to Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forest, about this issue. We also brought forward a similar scenario in West Bengal where a nuclear power plant is proposed at an ecologically sensitive area of Haripur coast," says Saldanha.

The NFF also condemned the failure of the Goa government to prevent the demolition of houses and work sheds of fishermen that fall within 200 metres from the high tide line. "These houses are being demolished all over Goa. Jairam Ramesh and Sonia Gandhi had assured the people of Goa during the last parliamentary elections that their houses would be protected, but they have done nothing till date" says T Peter, secretary, NFF.