[Reader-list] Fishers incensed over failure to discuss draft national policy

[T Peter]

Fishers incensed over failure to discuss draft national policy
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/fishers-incensed-over-failure-to-discuss-draft-national-policy/article8170726.ece

   - [image: T. Nandakumar] T. NANDAKUMAR
   <http://www.thehindu.com/profile/author/t.-nandakumar/>

Little representation of stakeholders in expert committee set up by
government

The traditional and mechanised fishing sectors in Kerala are gearing up for
a confrontation with the Union government over the failure to discuss the
draft of the revised National Fisheries Policy at the nationwide
stakeholder consultations which began at Mumbai on January 25.

The Union Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DAHDF)
had scheduled stakeholder meetings at Mumbai on January 25, Kochi on
February 4, Chennai on February 9, and Visakhapatnam on February 11, to be
followed by consultations with State Fisheries Departments in Kochi on
February 15.

Leaders of the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) said the first meeting at
Mumbai had proved to be a charade as the officials were not prepared to
table or discuss the draft policy.

“The officials who turned up for the meeting circulated a brief note in
Marathi and sought feedback from the participants. Representatives of
traditional and mechanised sectors registered their protest over the
failure to discuss the draft policy”, said NFF national secretary T. Peter.

*Livelihood concerns*

The Kerala Fisheries Coordination Committee is preparing to register its
strong protest over the manner in which the stakeholder consultation was
being organised by the government. Member organisations of the committee
say the policy formulation exercise had failed to address the livelihood
concerns of traditional and small-scale fishers.

General secretary, All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators’ Association, Joseph
Xavier Kalappurakkal said the government appeared to be creating a
smokescreen to open up the sector to foreign players. Alleging that the
DADHF was not serious in discussing the issue with the stakeholders, he
warned that fishers would be forced to launch a nationwide stir.

Fishing communities across the country have been up in arms against the
failure to ensure the representation of stakeholders in the expert
committee set up by the government to revise the national fisheries policy.
The committee is chaired by the Director General, Indian Council for
Agricultural Research (ICAR), S. Ayyappan and includes members from the
Fishery Survey of India, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute,
Marine Products Export Development Authority, and Bay of Bengal Programme.

*Stakeholder consultations alleged to be a farce*