[Reader-list] Fishermen plan mass agitation

[T Peter]

Fishermen plan mass agitation

KOLLAM, November 14, 2014

IGNATIUS PEREIRA
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/fishermen-plan-mass-agitation/article6597490.ece

Fishermen from the mechanised and traditional sectors are joining
hands to launch a mass agitation demanding rejection of the
'B.Meenakumari committee report for comprehensive review of the deep
sea
fishing policy and guidelines'.

On December 18, representatives of fishermen organisations across the
country will meet at Visakhapatnam to constitute a national-level
action committee for launching countrywide campaigns against the
committee report.

This decision was taken at an executive committee meeting of the
National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) at Delhi last month. NFF secretary T.
Peter said the Visakhapatnam session would chart out an action plan
for the campaigns.

The first campaign would be by boat from Mangalore to
Thiruvananthapuram. Social activist Medha Patkar would flag off the
campaign, to be led by Mr. Peter, on November 21, coinciding with
International Fishworkers Day.

Reception would be accorded to the boat campaign at all major fishing
harbours and landing sites along the Karnataka-Kerala coastline. The
valedictory function in Thiruvananthapuram on November 30 would be
inaugurated by Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan. Former
Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K.V.Thomas, MP,
CPI State secretary Pannian Ravindran, RSP general secretary T.J.
Chandrachoodan, and BJP leader V. Muraleedharan would address the
gathering.

Peter Mathias, secretary of the Kollam District Mechanised Boat
Operators Association, said the recommendations of the Meenakumari
committee report would ruin the fishing sector. He said the report was
prepared without consulting any fishing sector organisation based on
the western coast.

Representatives of the four organisations consulted were all based in
Chennai having superficial links with the sector. Their suggestions
did not provide a clear picture on the fishing activities along the
western coast, which was more vibrant than the eastern coast, he said.

The core area of fishing activity now was at depths ranging from 200
to 500 metres, which had been recommended as buffer zone. A ban on
fishing on the "buffer zone" would be tantamount to banning fishing
itself, he said.
"The recommendations give rise to fears of a hidden agenda to permit
foreign trawlers exploit the marine wealth of the country," he
alleged.

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Forums to meet at Visakhapatnam in December

First campaign by boat from Mangalore to capital

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