The Battle for the Beach

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

5. Part I: Introducing fishing communities

6. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Part II: The fight for the coast

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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%

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. Protecting Coastal Spaces

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

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

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

42. Thanks