[Reader-list] NFF slams deep sea policy

[Kashi]

Nm



T Peter <peter.ksmtf at gmail.com> wrote:

>*NFF slams deep sea policy*
>
>http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/nff-slams-deep-sea-policy/article6870226.ece
>
>SPECIAL CORRESPONDEN
>
>The National Fishworkers' Forum has opposed the Centre's move to grant
>permits to deep sea fishing vessels, which would potentially facilitate
>entry of foreign operators at the cost of the livelihood of the native
>fisherfolk. Taking an exception to the move, NFF leaders M. Ilango,
>Narendra Patil and T. Peter said the Ministry of Agriculture's (MOA) public
>notice calling for 270 more deep sea fishing vessels to be provided with
>letter of permit (LOP) in Indian seas to engage in operations 12 nautical
>miles off shore seemed to be an "arbitrary decision of the MOA violating
>the suggestions made by Dr. Meenakumari Committee."
>
>*Agitations*
>
>Demanding withdrawal of the LOP for new vessels, the NFF said it would
>otherwise be forced to go on a nationwide protest, fishing bandh and
>demonstration in New Delhi during the Budget session.The Ministry's notice
>of November 28 invited companies and Indian entrepreneurs to apply for
>permission to fish in the EEZ that is beyond the territorial waters
>extending to 12 nautical miles. According to the NFF, this would open up
>doors to even foreign vessels under joint venture with 51 per cent equity
>of the Indian company, where even a vessel acquired against deferred
>payment would be considered as a fully paid one.The NFF pointed out that
>apart from the fact that a company could get an LOP for up to four such
>vessels, the Ministry notice also sanctioned pelagic / midwater trawling.
>
>*Variance with recommendations*
>
>Though the Ministry's decision was supposed to be based on the report of
>Dr. Meenakumari committee, which was constituted to review the deep sea
>fishing policy, certain provisions, as put forward in the government
>notice, were at variance with the recommendations, Mr. Ilango said. The
>committee claims that there is a potential to catch fish in sea with a
>depth of 500 m and above and so suggests providing permission for 270 new
>vessels. The committee also proposes having foreign fishermen until the
>Indian institutions can train the Indian fishermen to operate and fish in
>such vessels. However, while the Meenakumari committee prescribes fishing
>in depths beyond 500 m, the public notice of MOA mentions the fishing
>ground as sea beyond 12 nautical miles, the NFF contended.Moreover, in many
> places the depth of the sea need not be above 500 m.
>
>"While we question the grounds of information about the fish resource
>available at such depth, the committee itself says that the depth below 200
>m is heavily exploited and the fishers are already moving into depth of 200
>to 500 m," Mr. Ilango said.
>
>*Detrimental to traditional fishermen*
>
>The NFF stated that it had repeatedly mentioned that the idea of opening up
>Indian seas is dangerous and detrimental to the fishing of Indian
>traditional fishers, as the fish resource is heavily depleted due to the
>non-ecological fishing done by these vessels. Hence further opening up the
>sea for more vessels to fish will only be construed as part of the "global
>ocean grabbing conspiracy", the NFF said. It urged the Union government to
>seriously consider the recommendations of the Murari Committee and not
>extend the LOP to the existing deep sea fishing vessels, and encourage
>Indian fishermen with less than 20 m sized boats to fish in depths beyond
>200 m by providing them LOP, financial support and technical expertise.
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