ID :
28301
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 14:01
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/28301
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Fishing ban threatens fishermen in Orissa coast
Kendrapara (Orissa), Nov 3 (PTI) Fishermen in Orissa have voiced their resentment over the government's imposition of a six-month ban on marine fishing along a 20-km stretch within the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary.
The embargo imposed on Saturday, which coincided with the
onset of the breeding season and mass nesting of Olive Ridley
sea turtles, would remain in force at Dhamra-Barunei stretch
till May 31 next, official sources said.
An estimated 25,000 traditional marine fishermen in
coastal Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts have protested
against the government move.
In view of the drop in marine fish catch and subsequent
loss of a vocation, the fishermen have been demanding the
government to provide temporary permits for fishing activity
on once-a-week basis.
Last year the government had made commitment in this
regard but it was never implemented pushing the fishermen from
these parts to the brink of poverty, All Orissa Marine Fish
Workers' Association general secretary Narayan Haldar said.
"The conservation of endangered Ridleys is of paramount
importance but it should not be at the cost of livelihood of
thousands of fishermen, who cause no harm to these species,"
argue the fishermen.
As per practise, the government in a bid to curb high
mortality of these marine species prohibited fishing activity
within a sea-ward radius of 20 km from Gahirmatha sanctuary.
The ban is clamped in accordance with Orissa Marine
Fishing Regulation Act, 1982 and Wildlife Protection Act,
1972.
The fishermen claim that they fish in five km off the sea
coast with their indigenous 'kani' net in which turtles never
get entangled.
The prohibition in past years has resulted in a drastic
drop in marine fish production and economy of the region,
solely regulated by fishing sector, lies shattered, they said.
Many ancillary sectors, owing their existence to thriving
marine fish industries, are equally hit by the ban.
There are instances of ice factories closing their shops
following sliding commercial viability in areas such as
Dhamra, Jamboo, Kharinasi, Ramnagar, Sandhakuda, Ambiki,
Erasama and Paradipgada.
Skilled boat-makers from these areas are also slowly
migrating to Digha and Vishakhapatnam following the ban.
Although the affected fishermen accepted a relaxation on
fishing rights to non-motorised boats within five km sea-ward
radius, the disagreement on judicious demarcation of
no-fishing zones remained.
Haldar said the forest department had its own way of
demarcating the sea territory, while state marine fisheries
had a distinctive and separate demarcated line to detect
unlawful fishing.
"We are thoroughly confused by the contradictory
demarcation yardsticks....so we fall prey to whims and fancies
of patrol vessels and harassed," he said.
The fishermen also want early implementation of the
subsistence package, announced by the state government last
year.
The government had announced Rs 2,700 a month for full
time fishermen and Rs 1,350 a month for part time fishermen,
75 percent of which would be borne by the Centre. PTI Corr
The embargo imposed on Saturday, which coincided with the
onset of the breeding season and mass nesting of Olive Ridley
sea turtles, would remain in force at Dhamra-Barunei stretch
till May 31 next, official sources said.
An estimated 25,000 traditional marine fishermen in
coastal Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts have protested
against the government move.
In view of the drop in marine fish catch and subsequent
loss of a vocation, the fishermen have been demanding the
government to provide temporary permits for fishing activity
on once-a-week basis.
Last year the government had made commitment in this
regard but it was never implemented pushing the fishermen from
these parts to the brink of poverty, All Orissa Marine Fish
Workers' Association general secretary Narayan Haldar said.
"The conservation of endangered Ridleys is of paramount
importance but it should not be at the cost of livelihood of
thousands of fishermen, who cause no harm to these species,"
argue the fishermen.
As per practise, the government in a bid to curb high
mortality of these marine species prohibited fishing activity
within a sea-ward radius of 20 km from Gahirmatha sanctuary.
The ban is clamped in accordance with Orissa Marine
Fishing Regulation Act, 1982 and Wildlife Protection Act,
1972.
The fishermen claim that they fish in five km off the sea
coast with their indigenous 'kani' net in which turtles never
get entangled.
The prohibition in past years has resulted in a drastic
drop in marine fish production and economy of the region,
solely regulated by fishing sector, lies shattered, they said.
Many ancillary sectors, owing their existence to thriving
marine fish industries, are equally hit by the ban.
There are instances of ice factories closing their shops
following sliding commercial viability in areas such as
Dhamra, Jamboo, Kharinasi, Ramnagar, Sandhakuda, Ambiki,
Erasama and Paradipgada.
Skilled boat-makers from these areas are also slowly
migrating to Digha and Vishakhapatnam following the ban.
Although the affected fishermen accepted a relaxation on
fishing rights to non-motorised boats within five km sea-ward
radius, the disagreement on judicious demarcation of
no-fishing zones remained.
Haldar said the forest department had its own way of
demarcating the sea territory, while state marine fisheries
had a distinctive and separate demarcated line to detect
unlawful fishing.
"We are thoroughly confused by the contradictory
demarcation yardsticks....so we fall prey to whims and fancies
of patrol vessels and harassed," he said.
The fishermen also want early implementation of the
subsistence package, announced by the state government last
year.
The government had announced Rs 2,700 a month for full
time fishermen and Rs 1,350 a month for part time fishermen,
75 percent of which would be borne by the Centre. PTI Corr
