Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Fishing to be regulated in Gulf of Mannar

By S. Vijay Kumar

The seahorse which is listed among the endangered species in the Gulf of Mannar.

MADURAI AUG. 21. Amid apprehensions of more than 80 rare marine species facing an extinction threat, the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust is all set to regulate fishing activity over 10,500 sqkm, spanning along the Rameswaram-Tuticorin coastline.

Owing to excessive exploitation of marine wealth by local fishermen and pollution caused by industries over the years, which resulted in immense damage to the ecosystem, the GMBRT — a joint venture of the Global Environmental Facility and the United Nations Development Programme — in association with the Centre and State, is making efforts to enforce the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, its Director and Conservator of Forests, A. Ramkumar, told The Hindu here today.

"This is a globally significant project aimed at integrating biodiversity conservation, sustainable coastal management and livelihood security of villagers, who are directly dependent on marine resources.

The focus will also be on involving local communities in enriching the ecosystem and developing ecotourism," he said.

According to a recent survey, over 1.6 lakh people of 125 villages, abutting the shores, depend on sea resources in the core area of 560 sqkm for a living.

The number is on the rise with a chunk of agriculturists from the mainland switching over to fishing owing to drought conditions.

Interestingly, there is hardly any operational demarcation among fishermen and they fish in all corners. It is estimated that nearly 9,000 boats, including mechanised ones, enter the sea daily.

"The unregulated multiplication of boats and an absence of strict enforcement of fishing methodology are exerting human pressure on the marine resources," Mr. Ramkumar said.

Declared National Biosphere Reserve in 1989, the Gulf is also exploited for illegal mining of coral reefs and sea grass for industrial use.

Official statistics put the extent of damage to coral reef at 65 per cent in the project area. "If this pace of degradation is allowed to continue, it will result in total disruption of the sensitive ecosystem, besides causing an irrevocable depletion of marine wealth, ultimately affecting the livelihood of thousands of fishermen."

Rich in flora, fauna

Located on the southeastern tip of the subcontinent, the Gulf of Mannar is known to harbour over 3,600 species of flora and fauna, making it one of the richest coastal regions in Asia. Among the species that figure in the endangered list include dolphins, sea cow (Dugong Dugon), whales and sea cucumbers.

Quoting statistics from the GEF-UNDP report, Mr. Ramkumar pointed out that for every 1,000 kg of fish collected, 325 kg of rare but untargeted organisms get discarded and left to die on the shores. "Salt-resistant mangroves on the 21 islands of the core area, which help in preventing coastal erosion, besides serving as a breeding ground to marine organisms, are also being exploited. Due to ignorance, the fishermen resort to destructive practices such as dynamite fishing. We intend to provide 24-hour watch towers in strategically-located islands."

The statutory GMBRT, comprising the Forest and Environment, Fisheries and Rural Development departments, plans to coordinate with Coast Guard for providing visible demarcations for restricted and selective harvest of resources. As a first step towards creating awareness among the locals of the need to conserve marine wealth, the officials are contemplating providing alternative employment to the fishermen through a Rs. 140-crore project and offering economically viable and socially acceptable packages to them.

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