[Reader-list] Kerala Inland fishery bill - Seminar – KSMTF

[T Peter]

Sub: - Kerala Inland fishery bill - Seminar – KSMTF

The fisheries production in the inland capture fishery sector is on
the decline due to man made causes such as construction of dams and
barrages, pollution of inland water bodies, excessive use of water bodies

for tourism etc. Thereby the livelihoods of inland fishermen of the state is
severally affected and are heavily marginalised.Government of Kerala
has now come forward to address these problems by introducing “Kerala
Inland Fishery Bill (2010) in the legislative assembly. The bill has
now been sent to subject committee for scrutiny and is expected to be
reintroduced in the next assembly session for detailed discussions.
In this context Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation
(KSMTF) organised a Seminar on the proposed Kerala Inland Fisheries to
understand and assess the various provisions of the bill in addressing
problems of the inland resources and aspirations of the inland fishermen of
the State.
The Seminar was conducted at ASHIR BHAVAN, ERNAKULAM on
9th April 2010. Over 90 persons attended the Seminar. The participants
included inland fishermen and fishermen organization leaders from the
districts of Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Ernakulam.
The programme was inaugurated by Shri.S.SHARMA, Hon’ble Minister
for Fisheries, Kerala. He stressed that the Govt. is committed to safeguard
the interests of fishermen by protecting their livelihood needs. Hon’ble
Minister said that the inland fish production of the State would be
augmented to 2 lakh tones per year from the current level of production
of 75000 tones. Hon’ble Minister also informed that public hearing on
the proposed bill will be conducted during the month of May at four
centers.10th May - Kannur ,17th May – Vaikom, 24th May – Kollam, 30th
May - Trivandrum
Shri.T.Peter, State President of KSMTF in his presidential address pointed
out that the current policies of GOI are not in favour of the interests of
the traditional fishing community. He also pointed out that KSMTF and
NFF (National Fish Workers Forum) are committed to take up the various
issues of the fishing community to the appropriate levels. He also suggested
that the recommendations of the seminar can be presented in the proposed
public hearings to be conducted by subject committee.
The seminar was moderated by Shri.Julian Teelar, Executive,
FISHMARC. Shri.D.Sanjeeva Ghosh, Addl.Director of Fisheries (Rtd)
presented a paper on “Kerala Inland Fishery Bill and Inland
Fisheries Sector of the State”.Shri.S.Raveendran Nair, Joint Director
of Fisheries (Rtd) presentedthe paper on “Kerala Inland Fishery Bill
and Inland Fishermen of the
State”.Following persons participated in the panel discussion and expressed
their views on the proposed bill.Shri.P.P.John, General Secretary,
KSMTF, Shri.P.V.Wilson, DistrictPresident, KSMTF, Ernakulam,
Shri.C.Francis, District President,KSMTF, Pathanamthitta,
Shri.P.C.Ben, President, KSMTF, Alappuzha
(Inland), Shri.Anto Elias, Secretary, KSMTF, Trivandrum, Smt.T.K Devi,
Ezhupunna, Shri.K.Babu Ottamassery, President, KSMTF, Alappuzha,
Shri.N.J.Antony, Secretary, KSMTF, Ernakulam, Shri.Jackson Pollayil,
Secretary, KSMTF, Alappuzha, Shri.T.A.Paul, State Secretary, KSMTF.


After detailed discussions the following recommendations were made.

1) KSMTF welcomes the effort of the state Govt. to bring a new
legislation to manage and regulate the Inland Fishery Section of
Kerala. But the provisions included in the bill are either inadequate
or unacceptable.

2) Inland fishermen of the State are totally ignored in the bill. The
objectives of the bill should be expanded to include the protection of
livelihood security of the inland fishermen. The section on definition
should include to define inland fishermen and provision may be added
for the identification and registration of inland fishermen,

3) Excessive emphasis is seen given for the development of aquaculture
and related activities. In the context the inland fishermen are much
more marginalized due to shrinkage of fishing areas, provision may
be included for the protection/declaration of fishing areas of the
inland fishermen.

4) The principles of inland fisheries management is not clearly indicated
in the bill.

5) The fishing rights of the fishing areas (even with reservoirs) should
be vested with the inland fishermen.

6) There is indication that the filtration fields would be declared as
aquaculture areas which would result denial of traditional rights
enjoyed hither to by the fishermen.

7) The inland water bodies possessed by local bodies are kept out of the
the proposed bill. The regulation/restriction envisaged in the bill should
be made applicable to these water bodies also. But the provisions on
enforcement and management of such water bodies can be entrusted
to the local bodies.

8) It is envisaged that fish sanctuaries would be started one each in the
marine districts. This is purely unscientific. The identification and
management of such areas should be done with fishermen participatory
approach. Also inland fishermen should be compensated for their
employment loss.

9) The registration and licensing of fishing implements/gears should be
exclusively reserved for the inland fishermen.

10) The recommendation/suggestions of the various expert committees/
task forces are to be included in the bill.

11) The punishments proposed in the bill are unacceptable. The
punishments should be proportional to the offences.

12) KSMTF should demand to redraft the bill to make it more fishermen
friendly.

 Regional Seminar at Kozhikode

Sub:- Draft legislations on the management of Indian Fisheries
and Protection of Indian Coast - Regional Seminars – KSMTF & MFFS

Kerala Swathantra Malsyathozhilali Federation (KSMTF) has decided
to conduct regional workshops to discuss the current policy
initiatives of GOI on two issues.
(i)     Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Act 2009 – Draft bill.
(ii)    Proposal to improve CRZ notification of 1991.


The southern regional workshop was conducted at Veli, Trivandrum on
March 2010. KSMTF & MFFS organized the Northern regional workshop at
Nalanda Auditorium, Kozhikode on 31st March 2010.40 Fishermen
representatives attended the workshop. The participants were from the
district of Malappuram, Kozhikode and Cannur.
Shri.V.Vivekandan, Advisor, SIFFS presented both the issues. The
first issue was discussed in length and the other in short. T.Peter,
S. Raveendran Nair, T.K.Sidhiq, Rajan and Julian Teelar also presented
their views.
KSMTF Malabar regional president P.T.Muhamad Koya presided the seminar.
Twelve persons participated in the panel discussion. After detailed
discussion the following deliberations were made.

(i) The district units of KSMTF fully accept the NFF position on
both the issues.

(ii) There is urgent need to strengthen the activities of KSMTF at
the Northern districts.

(iii) The protest of KSMTF may be demonstrated before Head Post Office Kozhikode
on 22nd April 2010 demanding to withdraw the present draft bill on
Marine Fisheries circulated by MOA and to redraft the bill adding new
provision consistent with good fisheries conservation and management
practices and strengthening some
of its socio-ecological elements.

(iv) KSMTF should take initiative to hold field level discussions with
fishermen and fishermen organization representations on the recent
fisheries issues.

http://www.keralafishworkers.org