Port Blair (Sri Vijaya Puram): Facing declining fish stocks, shrinking access to nearshore fishing grounds and growing livelihood uncertainties, small-scale fishers in South Andaman have demanded legal recognition of their traditional rights over marine resources, along with adequate compensation during seasonal fishing bans and cyclonic disruptions.
The demands were raised at a consultation held at TSG Emerald Hotel on October 30, attended by 40 representatives from ten fishing villages, including women fish vendors, traders and migrant workers. The participants called for an increase in the existing annual compensation of Rs. 3,000 per household during lean fishing periods and sought coverage for women fishers and non-BPL fishing families.
The fishers also demanded strict enforcement of the separation of traditional fishing grounds from areas used by mechanised boats under the Andaman and Nicobar Marine Fishing Regulation, legal protection of their access to nearshore waters and a greater role in framing fisheries management policies. Declining nearshore fish stocks and the threat of crocodile attacks were identified as major challenges to their livelihoods. Women vendors additionally sought safe market spaces with basic amenities, including drinking water and toilets.
Facilitated by the National Federation of Small-scale Fishworkers, with support from Dakshin Foundation, BOBP-IGO and the Department of Fisheries, the consultation forms part of the process of drafting the National Plan of Action for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF Marine). Based on the FAO’s Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries, the initiative seeks to integrate fishers’ rights, livelihood security and sustainable resource management into national policy.
Dr. Naveen Namboothiri, Founder Trustee of Dakshin Foundation and a member of the National Task Force (Marine) constituted by the Union Ministry of Fisheries, said the consultations offered small-scale fish workers an important opportunity to place their concerns on record and influence the national action plan. An earlier consultation was held at Diglipur on October 13, with inputs from both North and Middle Andaman and South Andaman expected to feed into the draft plan.
