*‘New fisheries Bill will marginalise fisherfolk’ * *Date:17/10/2009* *URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/10/17/stories/2009101760090600.htm* Special Correspondent
Thiruvananthapuram: Participants at a seminar organised by the Kerala Swatantra Malsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) here on Friday said the new Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill, 2009, and the Coastal Management Zone notification would lead to the marginalisation of traditional fisherfolk and leave them at the mercy of corporate interests. T.D. Velayudhan, former Joint Director, Kerala Fisheries, alleged that the Union government was allowing its fisheries policy to be guided by corporate interests. “Fishworkers are an eco-system community, sharing an organic and historical bond with the sea, and any regulation that restricts this bond is bound to deeply affect the community as a whole,” he said. He questioned the directive of the Centre in framing such a law that directly interfered with the licensing and regulation of fisheries. T. Peter, State president, KSMTF, who chaired the seminar, said the new Bill restricting the fishing area to a distance of 22 km (12 nautical miles) from the coastline would directly impact the livelihood of traditional and small-scale fishermen who usually venture up to 50 km from the coastline. “According to the new Bill, if a fisherman crossed 22 km, he would be immediately detained by the Coast Guard.” --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
