Traditional fishermen staged a dharna in front of the office of Joint Director, Fisheries, in protest against the Centre’s decision to go ahead with the enactment of Indian Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill, 2019, without consulting the stakeholders on Tuesday.
Organised on behalf of the Traditional Fish Workers’ Union as part of a nationwide protest, the fishermen said the bill had several provisions including bringing the jurisdiction of territorial waters under the control the Central government.
Union president for North Andhra unit K. Lakshmi told said the traditional fishermen were facing the threat of unemployment due to massive displacement and encouragement to corporate/fishing by mechanised boats.
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She said cage culture and mariculture was also threatening the livelihood of fishermen who eke out a living by fishing in the rivers and sea.
Planting of cages for culturing on the seashores obstruct the movement of traditional fishermen boats like catamaran, she said.
According to the Centre, the Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill has been drafted after four rounds of consultative meeting of the committee for drafting of the bill in consultation with experts and stakeholders.
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