: With the aim of preventing depletion of fish population, the Kadars and Malayans of Vazhachal will observe a voluntary moratorium on fishing during the monsoon as part of their Community Forest Resource (CFR) management plans.
This was announced at a function organised by the Vazhachal CFR Coordination Sangham, Kerala Forest Department and WWF India at Vazhachal on Friday to release a poster on ‘Important Fish of Vazhachal CFR area’.
“The self-imposed ban will stretch from 15 days to a month during the monsoon and will help prevent disturbance and depletion during the breeding season and allow fish stocks to recover,” said Unnikrishnan, president of the Vazhachal CFR Coordination Sangham.
Sejal Worah, Programme Director, WWF India, appreciated the combined efforts of the local communities, scientists, government representatives and civil society in highlighting the importance of conserving rivers and riverine biodiversity.
“We hope this can be a model across the country to gain more attention to the plight of our rivers and the people dependent on them.”
N. Rajesh, DFO, Vazhachal Forest Division, who released the poster highlighting the important fish species of the CFR area, emphasised that the responsibilities that come with the CFR rights are equally important.
“The community has the responsibility of managing and protecting these forests. Along with the forest resource use in the CFR area, community can help Forest Department by providing appropriate support for better protection activities.” According to Dr. Basheer, Principal Scientist, Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR)’, harnessing traditional knowledge about aquatic biodiversity in general, and fish in particular, is an important component of sustainable resource use.
“We hope the information presented in this poster will be useful in highlighting the role of tribal fishermen in conservation.”
The nine settlements that have been granted the CFR title include Vazhachal, Pokalapara, Poringalkuthu, Mukkumpuzha, Wachumaram, Thavalakuzhipara, Anakkayam, Sholayar and Malakkapara.
The CFR management initiative is a first step towards fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of CFR right holders outlined under Section 5 of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
Posters on important fish varieties of Vazhachal released
Efforts on to protect fish population in Vazhachal area.
