The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development & Fisheries (Fish) of your Government has, under their Order G.O.Rt.No.217 Dt.18.08.2021, decided to put the fisheries of public water bodies of 100 hectares and above on open auction revoking traditional fishing rights of fishing communities and their cooperatives in such water bodies. It has been further decided that the revenue earned through open auction will be subdivided among – (i) the members of concerned primary fishermen cooperative societies (PFCS), (ii) Gram Panchayat, (iii) Fisheries Department (AFCOF) and (iv) Water Resource Department respectively by 30%, 10%, 20% and 40%. The Operational Guidelines appended to the above order unambiguously state that the main purpose of the Government in formulating and issuing the above order is to increase revenue earning. It is conspicuous that the fisheries cooperatives are offered only 30% of the revenue earned through auctioning of fisheries while the other 70% is to be taken away by Government Departments and Panchayat.
The National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers (NPSSFW) and the Democratic Traditional Fishers Workers Forum (DTFWF) of Andhra Pradesh strongly oppose the above decision of the Government of Andhra Pradesh to sell out public water bodies to private entrepreneurs to earn more revenue. The Government decision blatantly violates the inalienable right of traditional fishing communities on water bodies and fish resources. Public water bodies are used by traditional fishing communities for livelihood through generations. Fishing and fish farming in these water bodies are their traditional and customary rights. A substantial part of the fish harvested from these water bodies by local fishers are sold by the women fish vendors. Leasing out the water bodies to private entrepreneurs would devastate their family income. The Government’s duty is to act as the custodian of the livelihood rights of traditional fishing communities. The Government cannot and should not take away the constitutional rights of fishing communities to their livelihood and sell the water bodies to investors and entrepreneurs. It may not be out of place here to remind that revenue earning is not the only responsibility of the Government, its greater responsibility lies in protecting the life and livelihood of the citizens.
The fishing communities, fisheries cooperatives and fish workers’ organisations of Andhra Pradesh have totally disapproves the above order and are protesting against the decision taken by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Small scale fishers and fish farmers will be compelled to hit the street and demonstrate against the draconian order if it is not withdrawn forthwith.
The National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers (NPSSFW) and the Democratic Traditional Fishers Workers Forum (DTFWF) of Andhra Pradesh demand –
1. Stop open auctioning of water bodies with immediate effect and withdraw G.O.Rt.No.217 Dt.18.08.2021.
2. Issue water title to all fishers and fish farmers traditionally attached to public water bodies conferring the right to fish or farm fish in those water bodies as well as the right to protect the water bodies and their fish resources.
Auctioning of Fishery Wealth in the Public Water Bodies which are 100 Ha and above in the State of Andhra Pradesh – Operational Guidelines Orders – Issued, G.O.Rt.No.217 dated:18.08.2021 is available at: https://indianlegal.demo2.icsf.net/images/resources/externalNews/docs/legal_india/documents/31860036.pdf