Fishermens' 'No' to MPT onslaught on livelihoods

11.10.2010.

To:

The Chief Minister,

Government of Goa,

Secretariat, Porvorim,

Bardez, Goa.

Sir,

This is to bring to your notice the bleak future that awaits traditional fishermen from Baina beach if the clandestine designs of the Mormugao Port Trust sugar coated with a cloak of philanthropy in the garb of constructing a fishing jetty for trawler owners at Baina beach is allowed.

In the first place, we firmly that it is the prerogative of the Government of Goa to decide and plan the infrastructure required in the state as it is best equipped to decide in the best interest of the people. Ironically, MPT appears to have usurped this sacred duty of your Government and gone ahead to sign a MOU with the boat owners without even consulting the Government, leave alone consulting the traditional fishermen who are also stakeholders.

Sir, currently there are around 1,200 fishermen community members besides the labour living off Baina beach from where they not only carry out their fishing activity but also live there as there are 90 residential houses along the beach. The MPT proposes to construct the fishing jetty at the Southern end of the Baina beach, which means all the fishermen living along Baina beach will be displaced.

Besides, if the fishing jetty is permitted here, the fishermen will not be able to carry out their usual activity as the trawler owners will not allow them to fish in the area. As it is right now the trawler owners harass the traditional fishermen in various means like not allowing them to anchor near their jetty and even compelling wholesale fish buyers not to purchase the traditional fishermen’s catch.

Sir, this would mean that the poor and marginalized traditional fishing community will be deprived of not only their residential houses but also their means of livelihood, which is quite contrary to your avowed mission of working for the aam admi and therefore, you have to intervene and put the MPT in its place and assert your Government’s prerogative to govern the people of Goa.

We also would like to bring to your notice that the MPT is proposing the fishing jetty – which incidentally is a huge project involving construction of a breakwater – that will definitely have an impact on the hydrology of the area and the ecology. It is indeed ironical that MPT is gloating about this project without even carrying out an Environment Impact Assessment study, which is mandated for such projects.

As you are aware, the beaches in the Southern taluka of Canacona are facing severe problems of erosion suspected to be caused by the development of the Sea Bird project at Karwar. If MPT is permitted to construct the fishing jetty as per the plans prepared by them, the beaches in Goa will be severely impacted which in turn would affect the flourishing tourism industry that has come to be the mainstay of Goa’s economy as the tourists visit our state only for its beaches, and if there are no beaches left, there will be no tourists coming.

In addition, the Baina beach attracts a lot of people because of its natural beauty and particularly during the summer season when various cultural activities are conducted on the Beach. The Government too uses the Baina beach during the International Film Festival of India, which has come to stay in Goa permanently.

We would also like to bring to your notice plans to displace fishermen from the Bimbeli beach which is a private property. Fishermen are given access to this beach primarily because it is a private property.

It has come to our notice that the Navy is proposing to acquire this beach to station a new squadron which would result in the fishermen being displaced from this beach too. Although the Navy says that it will issue passes to the fishermen and permit them access, in reality this will not happen going by the Maharashtra experience.

Sir, in Maharashtra, initially a radius of 500 mts. around installations was banned for fishermen. However, the same has now been increased to five nautical miles which translates roughly to around eight kilometers. If the same yardstick is applied in Goa, the fishermen will not be allowed to carry out their trade anywhere around that area as MPT seeks to push them to Bimbeli from where the Navy is planning to evict them.

A question that comes to mind is why should the Navy want to set up another squadron in Goa when it has such a huge base at neighbouring Karwar which is not really very far off. Besides, Goa has given more than sufficient land to the Navy and other armed forces of the country including the island of Anjediv for free.

Sir, we earnestly appeal to you to protect the interest of the traditional fishermen who are the aam admi that you keep talking about. Besides, you have every reason to stall MPT’s nefarious plans as it has refused to co-operate with you.

Therefore, we request you to take immediate steps to ensure that the houses and means of livelihood of the traditional fishermen are protected failing which we shall be forced to come on the streets to protect the interest of Goa and Goans.

Yours sincerely,

Sd /- Sd/- Sd/-

Agnelo Rodrigues Matanhy Saldanha Mohammed SS. Yakub

(President) (General Secretary) (President, Baina RFCOS)

C.c to :- Mr. Milind S. Naik, MLA, Mormugao Constituency.

:- Mr. Jose Philip D’Souza, MLA, Vasco Constituency.

NOTE :- A delegation of five representatives of fishermen from Kantem Baina and other parts of Goa and presented the letter to the C M. on 11^th Oct. 2010. The matter is as above. Thanks.

Fish workers to observe protest day on October 29

http://www.thehindu.com/2010/09/29/stories/2010092955720300.htm

Staff Reporter

Agitation against Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2010
------------------------------------------

Mass conventions planned on November 21

Plea to increase kerosene quota for fish workers

-----------------------------------------

KOLLAM: Fish workers across the country are gearing up to launch
strong agitations demanding the withdrawal of the Coastal Regulation
Zone Notification 2010 issued recently by the Union Ministry of
Environment and Forests (MoEF), Kerala Swathantra Matsyathozhilali
Federation State president T. Peter has said.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Peter said the decisions in
this connection was taken at a meeting of the National Fish workers'
Forum (NFF) in Chennai on September 25 and 26.

October 29 will be a ‘protest day.' There will be mass conventions on
World Fishermen Day on November 21. On October 1,5 the NFF will submit
petitions and suggestions about the notification to Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and leaders of other
political parties.

Prior to issuing the notification, ten consultations were held across
the country to obtain the views of the fishing community and other
communities living along the coast. But the notifications do not
reflect the opinions expressed, Mr. Peter said.

Demands

The notification seemed to totally ignore the long-standing demand of
fishing communities for their ‘right to live along the coast.'

According to the notification, 12 nautical miles of sea will come
under the MoEF and not the Union Ministry for Agriculture. This will
prove harmful to the fishing community. The notification neither
protects the fishing community nor the coastal environment, he said.

Mr. Peter called for an increase in the kerosene quota to fishermen.

Under the present quota, fishermen end up paying more for fuel than
what they earn from fishing. In order to protect the traditional
fishing sector more kerosene at fair price should be allocated.

He suggested the setting up of kerosene bunks under government control.

Federation general secretary P.P. John, Kollam district president S.
Francis and secretary A. Andrews were also present.

http://www.keralafishworkers.in
http://www.alakal.net

NFF rejects MoEF notification on CRZ

The National Fishworkers Forum completely rejects the draft CRZ Notification 2010 put up on the MoEF website.

Given the fact that there are only cosmetic differences between the pre-draft Notification and the Notification pertaining to Coastal Regulation Zone, it appears that either the Minister for Environment and Forests is trying to fool the people or the bureaucrats in that department are hoodwinking the Minister and the public while acting as puppets of the various lobbies and vested interests.

There has been a colossal waste of public funds by holding 10 consultations across the country ostensibly, to understand the views and opinions of the fishing and other communities living along the coast as none of the recommendations made at these consultations are reflected in the notification. Hence what was the purpose of these consultations except for being eyewash to raise the people’s hopes and then dash them to smithereens?

Even though at each and every consultation, fishing communities along with other traditional occupants of the coastline of the country had consistently and very strongly demanded that the notification enshrines their right to live along the coastline that they have been occupying for centuries and their right to livelihood from what the coastal environment provides, be enshrined in the Notification. Sadly this demand has been royally ignored by the Minister and his mandarins as the same is not reflected in the Notification.

The Notification neither protects the fishing communities nor the coastal environment. Activities that do not need to be within 500 m from the sea like atomic plants, greenfield airports, “non-polluting” industries, SEZs, large housing projects, etc., are all permitted without any clear rationale. .There is also no attempt to take account of the cumulative impacts of thermal power plants and ports along the coast.

Given this reality, in what way does the CRZ Notification really provide for the protection of environment and safeguard the rights of fishermen and their livelihood?.

There is no case for the special status sought to be given to Kerala, Goa and Mumbai. Given that the situation along India’s vast coastline the coast and its biodiversity differs so vastly, this only opens up the possibility of each State asking for, and being given, a special status. This will only serve to dilute the CRZ Notification and open up the coast to builders, the tourist lobby, land sharks and industry, while offering no protection to the environment and the traditional inhabitants of the coast.

The so-called special concession given to Goa is nothing but humbug and mere eyewash. All that it recommends for Goa is mapping of the coastal villages and the khazan lands which do not entail any protection of the environment or the fishermen. Everybody is aware that the coastal villages in Goa have fishermen living there and hence mere mapping of these villages has no meaning unless it is supported by some clearly stated provisions to protect their houses and means of livelihood. In fact, the special concessions provided for the fishing community in Goa appears to be an attempt to ghetotise them in order to take control of the entire village under the Coastal Zone Management Plan and thereafter throw it open for land sharks and developers.

Similarly, for the khazan lands mere mapping will bring no tangible benefits particularly when there is no specific provision prohibiting conversion of khazan lands for other purposes. In such a situation, the khazan lands, which are an unique eco-system of the country found only in Goa, will be converted to other purposes like pisciculture, etc. under the guise of its management.

Even the special concession granted to Kerala whereby the setback area in backwater islands is reduced to 50 mts appears to be for the benefit of hoteliers and developers who have acquired large chunks of the land in these islands, rather that in the interest of the local inhabitants.

This is precisely the reason why the charge that the Department’s bureaucrats are acting as puppets of the vested interest is applicable.

The National Fishworkers Forum will meet shortly to plan its course and do everything in its power to ensure that the draft notification in its current form is withdrawn..

Sd/-

Matanhy Saldanha

(NFF, Chairperson)

The Mackerel and the Sea Birds

Tuned with the soft breeze
Floats on its surface
The waves of the river Mandovi

In its blue water
Sparkles the sunlit
Swarms of mackerel
Drifting dead and dormant

The crows peck at the putrid fish
On the river banks
Where the Blue Bottle flies grow
Fat and flatulent
Feeding on the food stuff
Spread around
Disease and distress
Like the owners of the trawlers
Crewing money and ministers

Time may come
People will relate the memory of the fish
In toilet soaps
Like the visits of the Beetles
The Swiss Commemorate
Once in a year
On sweet chocolates

The sea birds came and went away
Singing all the way
Flapping thier feathers
They carried angst and fear
Stitched in their wings

They sang about the dead fish
And the dying fishermen
Who sing no more
And their half-clad children
Mute and dumb
Stood beside the lifeless wooden boats
Gazing at the departing birds
Who cried and sang
And flew far far away
Towards some unknown land
Never to return again.

Bikram Das Gupta
03-11-1990
Panjim-Goa

Barges break fishing stakes

By Babluis Pereira, Pomburpa in Herald, May 05, 2009.

Mining activity has picked up, and iron-ore laden barges are navigating in Goa’s inland waterways round the clock. They do not follow the rules, and no checks are conducted by the concerned authority. There is a hue and cry among traditional fishing stake operators that barges are damaging fishing stakes from the Penha de France Church up to Calvim and Sirsaim loading jetty, causing them heavy losses. During Portuguese rule, strict night patrolling was conducted by the office of the Captain of Ports. Barges were checked to verify if they had search lights, licences of crews, and barge documents. There was a heavy penalty, and no such untoward incidents occurred. Now, in Democracy Raj, nobody fears anybody.

Earlier, mine owners used to run their own barges, the barge crew was all of Goan origin, and they knew the routes. Now, mining companies use hired barges, the crews are all outstation, and lack knowledge of Goa’s inland waters. The main problem at night is that the barge tandels drink, relax in their cabins, and entrust the helm to inexperienced khalasis who, due to lack of experience, run over stakes even when a light is tied to them!

Damaged fishing stakes are still lying non-operational. Fishermen fear that if they sink new stakes spending thousands of rupees, they may get run over once again. The victims have knocked the doors of the Fisheries Minister, the Director of Fisheries and the Captain of Ports, but nobody is willing to give a patient ear. One even said that only if they provided the barge number could they take action. Do they expect fishing stakes operators to set up powerful searchlights and sit up all night with pen and paper to write down the barge number?

The problem is highlighted every season before the concerned authority, that the barges are destroying the traditional fishermen’s livelihood. What measures have the authorities taken? Have they at least published a warning for barge operators in the English and Marathi newspapers? It shows that the Aam Admi government has no regard for the people, and only protects the interests of the mining lobby.