Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Fish workers oppose reforms

Thiruvananthapuram: Hundreds of fish workers took out a march to the office of the Accountant-General here on Saturday in protest against the proposed reforms in the fisheries sector and the government’s move to replace the Coastal Regulation Zone policy with the Coastal Zone Management policy.

The stir was organised as part of a nation-wide campaign by the National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) urging the Central and State governments to take steps to ensure the livelihood security of fisherfolk. Inaugurating the march, Pannian Ravindran, MP, said the government had a responsibility to protect coastal and marine resources.

NFF leaders alleged that the proposed reforms in the fisheries sector would expose traditional fishermen to unhealthy competition from multinational companies and lead to plunder of marine resources. They said the Coastal Zone Management policy and the decision to permit the operation of foreign trawlers would affect the livelihood of traditional fishermen all over the country.

NFF leaders Harekrishna Debnath and Matanhy Saldanha; State president of Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation T. Peter; and general secretary A. Andrews; were among those who spoke.

The NFF national campaign for the rights of fish workers began in Gujarat on May 1. During the Kerala leg of the campaign, the team visited fishing villages and landing centres along the coast from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram and addressed public meetings.

Mr. Debnath said the team had received complaints from fish workers against sand-mining, import of fish, inadequate supply of kerosene for outboard engines and discrepancy in utilisation of tsunami rehabilitation funds.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu