VASCO
The National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) has demanded that the Indian Marine Fisheries (IMF) Bill 2021 be deferred and not passed in the monsoon session, till consultation is carried out with stake holders.
In a press release, the NFF on Wednesday stated that its delegation comprising Chairperson Narendra Paitil, General Secretary Olencio Simoes, Veljibhai Masani and Anil Vargise met Union Minister of Fisheries Parshottam Rupala at New Delhi.
"We discussed serious flaws in the manner that the IMF Bill 2021 was drafted without even considering the suggestions and objections of stakeholder or MPs in all coastal states of India.”
“The bill is being considered during the ongoing 17th Lok Sabha monsoon session and this has led to fear among the fishing community in India. The bill has led to protest in most coastal areas even at the time of the Covid pandemic,” stated the press note.
Simoes said Union Minister of Fisheries Parshottam Rupala along with Assistant Commissioner Dr Sanjay Pandey and Joint Secretary Dr Jujjavarapu Balaji gave them a patient hearing and promised to go back to the drawing board and consider all objections raised by the NFF.
“A number of sections in the pre-draft of the IMF Bill 2021 need to be redrafted as these sections stand to displace small scale fishers and traditional fisheries of India as this bill focuses on exploitation and adding new fishing fleets in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and high seas. It is likely to displace over 3 lakh fishing vessels owners fishing in territorial water.”
“We have been assured that all issues of the IMF Bill 2021 will be addressed in consultation with stakeholders and till then, the NFF has demand that the bill should be deferred and not passed in the ongoing monsoon session," said Simoes.
