[Reader-list] Fwd: Rallies, dharna mark Fisheries Day in Kollam

[T Peter]

Rallies, dharna mark Fisheries Day in Kollam
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/rallies-dharna-mark-fisheries-day-in-kollam/article5378497.ece
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[image: PROTECTING A LIVELIHOOD:The Kerala Independent Fish Workers
Federation taking out a rally in Kollam on Thursday to mark World Fisheries
Day.—Photo: C. Suresh Kumar]
PROTECTING A LIVELIHOOD:The Kerala Independent Fish Workers Federation
taking out a rally in Kollam on Thursday to mark World Fisheries
Day.—Photo: C. Suresh Kumar

Under the banner of the Kerala Independent Fish Workers Federation, members
of the fishing community in Kollam city observed World Fisheries Day on
Thursday by organising rallies and holding a dharna in front of the port
office within the Tangassery Fishing Harbour complex.

The dharna was inaugurated by Monsignor Ferdinand Kayavil. In his address
he said that the proposed cement terminal at Kollam port within the
Tangassery harbour is harmful to the interests of fishermen.

Monsignor Kayavil said that fishermen should not be seen as a lot opposed
to development projects. But those projects which are poised to harm the
interests of fishermen will be opposed.

Addressing the demonstrators, the all India secretary of the National Fish
Workers Forum, T. Peter said that members of the fishing community had
always extended cooperation for development projects and the Thumba
Equatorial Rocket Launching Station is an example in this connection.

He said that 50 years ago the fishermen who were residing at the site of
TERLS cooperated in shifting from the area in the larger interests of the
country’s space programme. But projects like cement terminals and garbage
treatment plants, coming up at areas where fishermen engage in their
livelihood, will be opposed.

Mr. Peter that a majority of the fishermen in Kollam engage is pelagic
fishing for their livelihood. That is why fishermen are opposed to the
coastal shipping project. The project not only poses a threat to livelihood
but even to the lives of fishermen, he said. Federation leaders A. Andrews,
S. Francis, S. Stephen and M. Ambrose spoke.

The Kerala Labour Movement (KLM) organised a separate dharna at Chavara to
observe the day. Those taking part in the dharna expressed concern at the
alleged release of chemical waste into the Ashtamudi Lake by the public
sector companies, Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited and Indian Rare
Earths. The dharna was inaugurated by the former general secretary of the
Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Council, Fr. Stephen G. Kulakkayathil. The
KLM director Fr. Pious Mallier spoke.

The World Fisheries Day is observed on November 21 to create awareness on
the importance of water and its role in sustaining lives both in and out of
water.

It aims at drawing attention to overfishing, habitat destruction and other
serious threats to the sustainability of marine and freshwater resources.