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Greenpeace for strategy on marine resources

BHUBANESWAR: Pointing out that assured livelihood of traditional fisherfolk would by default check turtle mortality, Greenpeace, an international environmental pressure group, on Sunday demanded that the State prepare a strategy to exploit marine resources in a sustained manner.

Ahead of this year’s mass nesting season of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, Greenpeace released an approach paper titled “turning seas of trouble into seas of plenty” that emphasized on need for effective management of State’s marine resources.

“There is an inherent relationship between poor fisheries and marine management and the high turtle death toll every year. The solution - sustainable management of marine resources – is the first step towards tackling both turtle mortalities and falling fish catches in the near shore waters,” says Sanjiv Gopal, ocean campaigner of Greenpeace.

In 2001, the earning from Orissa’s marine fish exports to other countries was valued at around Rs. 380 crores.

The marine fish production has been estimated at 1,25,000 tonnes per annum while over 4.5 lakh fisherfolk residing in 641 villages in six coastal districts directly are dependent on the sector for a livelihood.

The approach paper, however, rang alarm bell that from 1999 to date, the fish catch had either remained stable or witnessed marginal decline.

“The number of mechanized boats has gone up by 250 per cent in 25 years, from 692 in 1981 to 1796 in 2004-05, thus reducing area per fisher substantially. There is now a problem of over capacity in Orissa’s fishing fleet,” it said.

Poor adherence to Orissa Marine Fisheries Regulation Acts (OMFRA), 1982 that prohibited trawling within 5 km of shoreline, reserving this area exclusively for traditional fishers was the main reason behind falling fish catches.

“The catch decline had direct impact on fisher communities. The duration of fishing expeditions, distances travelled in search of fish and expenses for a given quantity of fish have all increased,” the paper said. These factors were leading to growing unemployment, degradation of habitat and the pursuit of destructive or illegal activities.

“It is important for fisheries department to reassesses the State’s marine resources, governed by the ecosystem approach, ensure sustainability and availability of fish stock for this and future generations,” Mr. Gopal said.

In Orissa, the mechanized fisheries and trawling in particular were having a serious impact on Olive Ridley Turtles. Greenpeace said according to government estimates mortalities had declined from 13575 in 1997-1998 to 3242 in 2006-07.

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