the goan I network
PANAJI
The National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) has protested against the new Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification issued by the Centre on January 19, claiming that it drastically dilutes provisions to protect the coastal ecosystem.
NFF Vice-Chairperson Olencio Simoes said the annual general body meeting of the NFF at Veraval-Gujarat was attended by representatives from over 200 fishing communities from all nine coastal states and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
“The CRZ notification will eventually destroy the livelihood of fisherfolk along the coast of India, as 7,500 kms of coastline and 14,500 kms of riverline will be concretised for the Sagarmala projects.”
“The NFF has vowed to fight the new notification and demanded the withdrawal of the notification and its replacement with a new law by the Parliament, enacted after an elaborate public debate and discussion.”
“The NFF warned the MOEF to immediately withdraw the notification within 10 days, failing which NFF will declare a month-long national campaign from February 23 to 23 March 23.
Stating that major decisions had been taken at the NFF AGM, Simoes said they have demanded that fisherwomens’ rights in landing centres and fish-markets be protected and that, they have equal access to welfare and development schemes.
“The demand for a separate Ministry for Fisheries in the Central Government, enactment of legislation to protect the rights of fishers along lines of the Forest Rights Act and widening the scope of the welfare measures, were the key demands,” said Simoes.
“Every state discussed their issues which included loss of livelihoods due to ONGC surveys, the distress of a large fisher folk population due to a year-round ban on fishing in turtle nesting areas and lack of proper systems of compensation for loss of boats at sea.”
“The serious decline of fishing due to diversion of three major rivers, the impact of the big increase in coal mining, the loss of beaches and the damages caused by new ports, the dangers of port expansion and preferential rights for small scale fishermen were other issues also discussed,” said Simoes.
