*Fishers see threat in move to create buffer zones* http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/fishers-see-threat-in-move-to-create-buffer-zones/article6381996.ece
The Central government's move to create offshore buffer zones and ban fishing of certain species of sharks and manta rays is aimed at promoting the operation of foreign trawlers in Indian waters and represents a clear and present danger to the lives and livelihood of coastal communities in the country, organisations representing fishermen fear. *Stir planned* The Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF), National Fishworkers Forum, and Association of Deep Sea Going Artisanal Fishermen (ADSGAF) have joined hands to announce a nationwide agitation against the twin threats to the community. Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, leaders of the three organisations said the proposal of the B. Meenakumari committee to create offshore buffer zones to protect fish resources ran counter to the recommendation of the same committee to allow permits for foreign trawlers. The Central government had appointed a seven-member expert committee headed by Dr. B. Meenakumari to review the deep sea fishing policy. The panel submitted its recommendations in August. "The Blue Revolution mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot not achieved by jeopardising the livelihood of tens of thousands of fishermen and their families," NFF secretary T. Peter said. "While any move to ban fishing in the offshore area of depth 200 to 500 m will infringe on the rights of traditional fishermen, promoting the operation of foreign trawlers will lead to a crisis in the domestic fisheries sector," he said. *Against curbs* The leaders also came out against the proposal by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to regulate the fishing and trade of certain species of sharks and manta rays in Indian waters from September 14. J. Vincent Jain, Chief Executive, ADSGAF, said the proposal was unscientific and absurd, given the practical difficulty in singling out certain species for fishing. He feared that fishermen netting the banned species would face prosecution by enforcement officials while foreign trawlers would get away. The three organisations will hold a convention in New Delhi next month to protest the anti- fisher policies. On Fri, Sep 5, 2014 at 6:19 AM, Vincent Jain <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Peter > > Please send the attached letter to the Minister for Environment and > Forest and other connected sections. > > Regards > > Jain > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
