Fish workers' union pitches for inclusion of all stakeholders

With the seven-month ban on sea fishing activities along the 170-km coast in Odisha coming into force from Thursday, a fish workers' union has demanded inclusion of all stakeholders, to be affected by the ban, under the livelihood support scheme of the government.

At present, the state government provides assistance to only a few fishermen families, who are hit by the ban on fishing.

The state government has banned fishing along the stretch of Dhamra-Devi-Rushikulya river mouth, in view of the mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles who visit the coast every year.

The ban will be in force till May 31 next year.

Members of the Odisha Traditional Fish Workers Union (OTFWU) also demanded a hike in the livelihood support assistance from Rs 7,500 to Rs 10,000 to each of the affected fisherman's family during the period.

Any fishing activity in the no fishing zone, 20-km from the coast, through mechanised trawlers is banned in the area during the period.

Thousands of people such as fishermen, boat-makers and mechanics will be sitting idle for the next seven months from Thursday, said K. Alleya, general secretary of OTFWU.

"Therefore, we want all the families, who depend on fishing and related activities, to be given the livelihood support by the government," he said.

The financial support, which was enhanced from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,500 per family, is also very meagre, the OTFWU general secretary said.

"Considering the market rate and inflation, it should be raised to at least Rs 10,000 for this year," he demanded.

Since the Olive Ridley turtles visit a particular stretch of the beach, Alleya said there was no justification in imposing a ban on fishing in the entire coastal area.

"In Ganjam district, we want the restriction to be imposed only in five to seven kilometers near the Rushikulya river mouth, where the turtles come for nesting," he said.

Divisional forest officer (DFO), Berhampur, A K Behera said though mass nesting takes place near river Rushikulya mouth, sporadic nesting is held across the beach, off the Ganjam coast.

He said the turtles might be killed if they come in contact with mechanised boats.

Additional Fishery Officer (AFO), Marine, Ganjam Jalandhara Khatua said a survey was on to identify the number of fishermen families who will benefit from the livelihood assistance support in the district.