Title: Regarding ban on fishing including shark in the coastal area.
SHRI VAIKO (SIVAKASI): Hon. Deputy-Speaker Sir, I draw the attention of the Government to a very serious issue which will adversely affect the livelihood of lakhs of fishermen in the coastal areas of the country.
The gazette notification dated July 11, 2001 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests is a bolt from the blue to the fishermen of the country, particularly, from the Southern States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and also other parts of the country.
Through this notification, the Government has banned more or less sixty different items harvested from the sea under Schedule I of the Act, prohibiting harvesting, processing, stocking and sale of shark and other sixty items completely. This is arbitrary and unjust because the Ministry did not consult either the fishermen or the States’ Fisheries Departments or the Central scientific institutions on fishery.
The ban is unscientific. … (Interruptions) This is not an issue to be taken up on partisan lines. You are interrupting without understanding the problem. … (Interruptions) The Government will withdraw the ban; that is why we are bringing it to the notice of the Government. Are you not interested in the welfare of fishermen? Can you put your point and say for what reason the notification should be withdrawn? Please first listen to what I am going to say. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Shri Vaiko, do not get yourself entangled with any other Member.
… (Interruptions)
: Sir, sharks and other elasmobranches are apex predators and a ban on their fishing will lead to an imbalance in the food chain. This will affect the total fish catches, as the availability of the smaller prey fishes will decline. … (Interruptions)
Already, fishermen, for thousands of years, are fishing these items including shark, seahorse and corals. It is their main livelihood. … (Interruptions) When they go to the turbulent sea, there is no guarantee whether they would come back to the shores. They are already risking their lives. For hundreds and hundreds of years, they have been doing this. So, it is totally unjust.
Moreover, is it possible to catch a particular type of fish in the net? This is ridiculous. Through the net, could the fishermen dictate that only certain kinds of fish should come to the net? Is it possible? Therefore, fishermen have come all along from Kanyakumari in my State and from Kerala to Jantar Mantar in Delhi for staging a demonstration. I therefore draw the attention of the Government to the serious problem so that the ban could be immediately lifted, the prohibition could be scrapped and the Government could withdraw the notification to protect the lives of the fishermen whose livelihood is fully dependent on this activity. This is a very grave issue, to which I draw the attention of the Government. The Government should immediately withdraw the notification.
Thank you. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I will call you later. There are two more hon. Members to speak on this.
… (Interruptions)
उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : रामजी लाल जी, जिस मैटर पर आपने नोटिस दिया हुआ है, उसी पर मैंने उनको बुलाया है। इसके बाद आपका नाम आएगा।
(MADURAI): Hon. Deputy Speaker, Sir, while thanking you for this opportunity, I would like to make it clear at the outset that I am emphasizing the demand made by the hon. Member, Shri Vaiko, who spoke just before me drawing the attention of this august House to the plight of fishermen who are hard hit by two of the directions issued recently by the Union Government. About 60 kinds of fishes have been banned from being caught by Indian fishermen who live along the long coastal line of the country thereby affecting fishermen particularly those who live along the coastal area of many states borering the ocean. Crores of people dependent on fishing occupation have been affected by these notifications issued by the Union Government. On April the first of this year, another notification was issued by the Union Agriculture Ministry giving a blanket permission to the fishing trawlers of MNCs and foreign countries to go about fishing in our waters. Fishing community are very sceptical about this move. When there is a ban on our Indian fishermen, the very same Union Government permits foreigners to go about fishing on our high seas. I would like to point out that this strange and inconsistent a move which is evidently contradictory gives rise to a doubt about the integrity behind the move of the Union Government. When the interest of foreigners are taken care of, the interest of our countrymen are ignored. There is a ban on catching sharks. If sharks are not caught as and when they strike, it would endanger the other varieties of fish. All the species of fishes that are becoming extinct should be identified by Marine Research Centre, both at Mandapam and Cochin. Without consulting researchers a unilateral move has been resorted to. This must be rescinded. The ban comes into effect within 12 nautical miles, which fall within the jurisdiction of the State Governments. But the Union Government has taken action without consulting all the State Governments, which have right over territorial water in the sea. Already
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* English Translation of the speech originally delivered in Tamil
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have stoutly opposed the Centre’s move. Hence, I urge upon the Union Government to restrict the fishing trawlers of MNCs and foreign countries. Likewise the ban on fishing of 54 items must also be withdrawn.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Shri Mohan, please conclude now. I am calling Shri P.H. Pandian.
SHRI P. MOHAN: Just one minute please, Sir. Permission granted to MNCs must be withdrawn. The ban on certain fishing items must also be withdrawn and rationalised.