Fishermen`s to launch all-India protest
- Published in Mangaluru
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National Fishworkers Forum is planning an all-India fishing bandh this month against the changes in the guidelines governing deep-sea fishing which they fear would encourage foreign vessels with the latest technology to take away a bigger share of marine resources.
Forum chairman M. Ilango said the bandh was planned for January 19 but some State-level bodies had reservations and the final date would be announced soon.
He told over phone from Pondicherry that the Union Ministry for Agriculture had invited Indian companies, with up to 49 per cent ownership by foreign entities, to get a letter of permit for deep-sea fishing through the revised guidelines published on November 28. Deep-sea fishing is to be allowed in the exclusive economic zone .
Mr. Ilango said this would encourage foreign corporate entities and “completely destroy” the lives of Indian fishermen. and escalates the possibility of resources being exploited. He said the fisherfolk should be encouraged to update the mechanism for deep-sea fishing by giving them letter of permits and providing fuel. “We can be sure that their catch reaches Indian markets and become exports from Indian ports, thus adding to the Indian economy and supplying cheap protein,” he said. Marine exports account for Rs. 30,000 crore a year, he said.
The date for the protest will be announced soon
Forum chairman M. Ilango said the bandh was planned for January 19 but some State-level bodies had reservations and the final date would be announced soon.
He told over phone from Pondicherry that the Union Ministry for Agriculture had invited Indian companies, with up to 49 per cent ownership by foreign entities, to get a letter of permit for deep-sea fishing through the revised guidelines published on November 28. Deep-sea fishing is to be allowed in the exclusive economic zone .
Mr. Ilango said this would encourage foreign corporate entities and “completely destroy” the lives of Indian fishermen. and escalates the possibility of resources being exploited. He said the fisherfolk should be encouraged to update the mechanism for deep-sea fishing by giving them letter of permits and providing fuel. “We can be sure that their catch reaches Indian markets and become exports from Indian ports, thus adding to the Indian economy and supplying cheap protein,” he said. Marine exports account for Rs. 30,000 crore a year, he said.
The date for the protest will be announced soon
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