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The Battle for the Beach

The Battle for the Beach. V.Vivekanandan. Current battles. Koodankulam, Jaitapur Kutch Mundra Port and SEZ Thermal power plants in TN, Andhra Gujarat Tourism projects in Kerala, Goa Port development Urban effluents. The Indian coast at a glance. 6000 km coastline—Mainland

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The Battle for the Beach

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  1. The Battle for the Beach • V.Vivekanandan

  2. Current battles • Koodankulam, Jaitapur • Kutch Mundra Port and SEZ • Thermal power plants in TN, Andhra Gujarat • Tourism projects in Kerala, Goa • Port development • Urban effluents

  3. The Indian coast at a glance • 6000 km coastline—Mainland • 1500 km coast line—Archipelagos • Major urban settlements on the coast • 3200 fishing villages • Some farming villages

  4. Part I: Introducing fishing communities

  5. Fishing communities in Indian Society • It has its origins in humankind’s hunter gatherer stage of life—predates settled agriculture • In India, marine fishing is practiced over centuries over a 6000 km coast line • It is a caste based occupation with around 3-4 castes specialising in marine fishing in each maritime state • Marine fishing castes and their status in Indian society—difference with agrarian castes and tribal groups • Self governing communities with strong traditional structures for internal governance • Importance of markets, a community with great adaptability to markets, hunter-gatherers integrated with global markets

  6. 50 years of fisheries development has seen major changes in fishing with introduction of mechanisation • Catch has increased from 0.5 million tonnes to 3.2 million tonnes • Fishing has reached a saturation level in the productive coastal waters and shelf

  7. Uneven growth and development with some groups garnering a large share of the pie • Substantial increase in fisher population due to population growth and entry of new groups into fishing, especially in mechanised sector • Currently, a 5 million population of spread out in a thin line close to the sea

  8. Part II: The fight for the coast

  9. Coastal environment and fishing communities • Coastal environment crucial for fishing communities • It is the place where they live and depend on coastal space and resources for their life • It also contains resources and processes that affect the marine eco-system and their livelihood • Hence both life and livelihood of fishing communities depend on the health of the coast

  10. Threats to coastal space and eco-system • Gradual and incremental exploitation of the coast over a long time • Till recently, problems more associated with major cities on the coast • Now rapid economic growth—enormous pressure on the coastal space and coastal resources • Pressures from industrialisation, port infrastructure, tourism, coastal aquaculture, expansion of urban areas, mining

  11. Inter-sectoral conflicts on the increase • The agri-sector—fisheries sector conflicts: • Dams, irrigation schemes • River linking scheme • 30% reduction in nutrient flow to the sea due to dams in 50% • Examples from Gujarat: Adani port, Kalpasar project

  12. Shore protection related issues • Myth of the sea-wall • Localised shore line protection and its limitations • Need for macro level planning and use of multiple measures (engineering and non engineering) to protect coast

  13. Fisherfolk on the coast • CMFRI Census 2005 • 3202 marine fishing villages • 900,000 sea going fishermen • 750,000 fishing families • 3.5 million fisherfolk population • 6000 km coastline—if one ignore islands • If each village occupies 1 km of coastline, then over 3000 km of coastline occupied by fishermen villages—over 50%

  14. The CRZ • CRZ notification intended to protect the coast, also protect interest of fishing community (as per original notification) • Largely a failure due to lack of political will and pressures from various vested interests • Absence of effective enforcement machinery, toothless coastal zone mgmt authorities • Conflicts in CRZ regime and housing needs of fishing community

  15. Fishing community response to CRZ • Other then environmental groups, only fishing community supports the CRZ • CRZ creates problems for fishermen housing and livelihood needs, yet is the only instrument of protection from outside interests • Hence the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) has strongly supported CRZ • Has demanded implementation and made innumerable objections to violations

  16. Swaminathan Committee • CRZ went through more than 20 amendments—mostly to dilute regulations • Courts threw out many of these amendments as done with “malafide” intentions; some of these were based on committee reports • Ministry of Environment and Forests was desperately looking for a way out • Constituted a committee under internationally well know scientist Dr.Swaminathan to review CRZ • Committee report came after tsunami

  17. From “regulation” to “management” • The Swaminathan Committee completely changed the terms of discourse • It proposed radical changes including: • Change from regulation to management • Integrated coastal zone mgmt as basis • Role for local bodies in planning • Vulnerability or hazard mapping and a line to delineate vulnerable areas

  18. The CMZ • Many of the committee ideas seemed progressive but very few could understand the implications or the details • MoEF subsequently drafted a new notification in 2006 based on Swaminathan Committee • Got leaked out before publication and became the basis for a furious civil society debate • While many inconsistencies and contradictions in the committee reports raised apprehensions, the notification seemed to be even worse

  19. The fishworker critique—the process • Swaminathan committee was constituted with a view to push through changes not acceptable to courts—using his credibility as scientist • Committee had many hearings and heard all and sundry, except the largest stakeholders on the coast—fishermen • Ministry of Agriculture involved in the process

  20. Fishworker critique—on content • Abandoning regulations dangerous for coast • Nothing sacrosanct even in CMZ-I; all it requires is a management plan • Opening up the coast for more investment—increasing area for lower level of controls through CMZ-II • Fishermen housing and other needs ignored • Set back line based on vulnerability will be used to push fishermen away from coast • But allow all other interests like industry and tourism to move in; set back line a set back for fishermen

  21. Fishermen reactions • Various civil society organisations and the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) got together in mid 2007 to object to the “unofficial” notification • Rejection of CMZ and insistence on CRZ implementation • Mid 2007 fishermen demonstrations in all coastal states against CMZ • Formation of National Coastal Protection Campaign (NCPC)—environmental groups and fishworker organisations • Ministry denied the notification, and came out with a “concept note” in late 2007; organised a non representative consultation with fishing communities • Ministry came out formally with draft notification in May 2008; 60 days given for objection

  22. The coastal march • After detailed study and debate, NFF rejected notification • Launched national struggle • Coastal march from Gujarat to Bengal—May 1st to June 30th • 16 demands related to fishermen needs; however withdrawal of CMZ was the key demand • Massive response across the coast; media and political attention; many state govts support stand • 500 representatives conduct “indefinite” strike in Delhi in October 2008 • Central Govt agrees to sympathetically consider many demands • Agreed to consult with fishing community on CMZ

  23. CMZ in limbo • Ministry asked Centre for Environment Education (CEE)—NGO linked to ministry—to organise fisherfolk consultations across the coast • Despite some reservations, most fishworker groups and NGOs participated in consultations • Strong opposition to CMZ recorded in hearings • 9000 letters reached Ministry in protest • Parliamentary committee on Science and Technology also held hearings • CMZ shelved for the time being; will lapse in May during elections • Will depend on new Govt at Centre, but Ministry will definitely revive the idea

  24. The alternative • NFF and NCPC working on alternative proposal to CMZ • Inspired by Forest Rights Bill which recognises rights of tribes and long term forest dwellers • Idea of a “coastal rights” Bill; claim of a coastal homeland

  25. The two main objectives • Protection of the coastal spaces that marine fisherfolk need to live and pursue their livelihood and practice their culture • Protection of the coastal eco-system so that it can sustain both life and livelihood of the fishing communities • Both objectives are linked. One without the other is not good enough for the sustenance of the fishing communities

  26. Protecting Coastal Spaces

  27. Need of coastal spaces • Four needs are identified • Common spaces for fishing livelihood • Spaces for support facilities • Residential space • Space for cultural needs

  28. Common livelihood spaces • These are in the nature of common property • Beach or creek side to park/berth boats • Auction/sale of fish • Fish drying • Mending nets, repairing boats • In places like Kutch or Bengal, the seasonal places of stay for fishing should also be seen as an essential livelihood requirement

  29. Spaces of support facilities • These may also be in the nature of private property • Ice plants & cold storage • Dry fish storage/godowns • Marketing sheds • Boat building or repair centres • Motor service centres

  30. Residential spaces • Two broad scenarios for fishing hamlets • Hamlets right near the sea and fishermen going to sea from their homes • Hamlets far away from sea with beach or sea side used for livelihoods only or for seasonal camp-sites using temporary structures for accommodation • Both spaces should be protected

  31. Cultural needs • Temple/Mosque/Church • Kalyana Mandapam • Community Hall • Play grounds/recreation spaces • Burial/cremation grounds

  32. Some propositions • Sensitive and essential eco-systems to get high level of protection (“holy cow” status) • 500 m buffer zone in rural areas outside designated “fishing zones” • Smaller buffer zone in urban areas • Construction and activities along coast for non fishing purposes will be subject to two criteria • How essential to be located on the coast? • Can the coastal eco-system bear that activity? • Tough measures to control pollution of coastal zone and sea

  33. Monitoring, Enforcement • Clear mechanism for monitoring and enforcement • CZMAs to be revamped and given powers and machinery; wider participation including fishing community representation • Local “vigilance committees” to support CZMA • Strong punishment for violation—high fines in addition to demolition • Strong punishment for eco-system destruction and pollution—fine and imprisonment • Eco-system destruction for commercial benefit to be treated as “crime against humanity” • Compensation for loss of fishing due to destruction of habitat and pollution

  34. What about vulnerability line and integrated coastal zone plans? • Vulnerability line(s) could be drawn to provide all coastal communities with information on risks • Management plans could be drawn up for long term risk reduction by local bodies • Guidelines on coastal protection needs to be drawn up to avoid excessive use of “hard” options like sea walls • “soft protection” options also require guidelines and regulations given social and ecological problems that can arise

  35. “Fishermen the most endangered species” • Harekrishna Debnath • Chairperson • National Fishworkers Forum

  36. Thanks

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