Karunanidhi protests move for a tough fishing law

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Monday asked the Government of India to reconsider its move to impose a heavy fine on fishermen who go beyond the permitted 12 nautical miles for fishing and said it would particularly affect Tamil Nadu fishermen.

In a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, copies of which have been released to the media, Mr Karunanidhi said the proposed Marine Fisheries(Regulation and management) Bill 2009 would be detrimental to fishermen, particularly those from Tamil Nadu who fish in the narrow Palk Bay that separates India and Sri Lanka and who are often subjected to "harassment" by the Sri Lankan navy.

He also said marine fish production was already exhausted in territorial waters and introduction of the bill without consulting the fishermen community and other stakeholders would have wider implications.

Mr Karunanidhi said the proposal in the bill to impose a fine of Rs 9 lakh and a jail term of three months for fishing beyond India's territorial waters without licence was severe and impracticable as no fishing boat can fish even in Indian waters beyond 12 nautical miles.

The proposal "is against the schemes that are being implemented by the Union and State governments for encouraging fishermen to tap the under exploited offshore resources for commercial species like Tuna which fetch substantial foreign exchange", Mr Karunanidhi said.

He said the clause requiring fishermen to get a second licence for deep sea fishing would pave way for duplication of licensing system, create confusion and compound the misery of the fishermen.

Observing it was practically impossible to physically prevent fishermen from fishing beyond 12 nautical miles in the absence of clear-cut geographical zoning, the Chief Minister urged Mr Pawar to ensure that deep sea fishing vessels registered under the Merchant Shipping Act/Mercantile Marine Department (MMD) alone were brought under the purview of this clause.

He urged Mr Pawar to initiate a dialogue with stakeholders and consider suggestions made by all State Governments before tabling the bill in Parliament.

The Chief Minister also urged Mr Pawar to add a provision that the views of the State government concerned should be obtained in the interests of the fishing community.

- Asian Tribune -