VASCO
Vowing to intensify a national movement against anti-fishermen policies, the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) has demanded a ban on destructive fishing methods, while also insisting on the need to consult small scale and traditional fish workers on fisheries subsidies.
Addressing a news conference in Mangalore in the presence of fishing leaders from Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Odisha, NFF Vice-Chairman Olencio Simoes said the Centre had taken an initiative to ban destructive gears like bull or pair trawling and use of LED lights in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“The governments have, however, failed to implement the ban of these destructive gears and there is rampant violation of the ban in territorial waters and the EEZ,” said Simoes. “When we met the commanders of the Coast Guard of respective states, it was observed that they did not have any power to impound illegal boats/trawlers using LED lights or bull/pair trawling. The order states that they can only ‘prevent’, but they have been given no power for search and seizure.”
“Due to this confusion, fisheries departments of states concerned cannot impound the illegal boats or these destructive gears,” he added.
The NFF has demanded a ban on destructive fishing methods, including fishing gear, engine capacities and their related combinations, the ban on the catch of juvenile fish and consulting small scale and traditional fish workers on all negotiations relating to fisheries subsidies.
The NFF has also demanded that a dedicated ministry of fisheries be formed at the centre and to clarify details of the fisheries budget allocation under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Investment Development Fund (FAIDF).
