Date:05/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/05/stories/2009070550800200.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Centre to consult fish workers

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: The National Fish workers’ Forum has claimed to have won an assurance from the Central government that the latter would consult with the fishing community to identify a coastal management strategy.

A press note issued by NFF on Saturday said Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh had agreed to drop the proposal to replace the “Coastal Regulation Zone” (CRZ) notification with the controversial “Coastal Management Zone” (CMZ) notification.

An NFF delegation met the Minister on July 2 and discussed various issues pertaining to the traditional fishing community. It also met the President of India.

The press note said Mr. Ramesh had promised to start a dialogue with the fishing community on the best way to manage the coast. “The Minister has agreed to a series of consultations in Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Cochin, Goa and Mumbai with representatives of the fishing community in the nine coastal States before August 31, 2009.”