Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti (MMKS) has come to know regarding the Indian Marine Fisheries (IMF) Bill, 2021, which will be tabled in the current Parliament Session. The bill has certainly created more confusion among fisher communities than clarity in the coastal states. While the Indian EEZ needs legislation to regulate foreign vessels fishing activities and protect the rights of the traditional fishing community.However, the bill is aimed at deceiving the fishing community by secretly placing them in Parliament without trusting and consulting with traditional fisher communities during the Corona pandemic
Our objections to the Bill are as follows
The traditional Fishers use Dol net, Gill Net in Maharashtra to fish in EEZ i.e. fish from 13NM to 100 NM. This proposed Bill alinates and criminalise the traditional EEZ Fishers and their protection totally excluded in the entire drafting process of the IMF Bill 2021. It is not acceptable to pass a law in Parliament without discussing it with the traditional fishing community for fish in the Indian EEZ. Also, this law shows the dangerous policy of special licensing foreign fishing boats in EEZ through the back door.
The translation of the bill was not given in Marathi. The English version of the IMF Bill 2021 was only available on the Fisheries Department’s website for a few days and suddenly disappeared.
MMKS demands that there be extensive consultation on all relevant draft policies and laws.
Following are some quick comments on the bill
1. Lack of Clarity in Interpretations:
Chapter I: Section-2 Definitions (a), (c), (f), (g), (i), (n), (r), and (s) contravene the definitions and international terms with regard to the customary traditional rights of the Indian Fishers over the land and sea, and also dispossesses the Rights of the coastal States over fisheries and management of activities in territorial waters. This Bill will supersede the States and Union Territories’ rules with regard to fishing in their territorial waters. NFF fears that this Bill will supersede the States and other Union Government rules with regard to fishing and the coastal territorial waters
2. Sections 3 to 8 are related to fishing licenses in EEZ. The fishing license should be the same between the state government and the EEZ. Central and State governments cannot impose the fishworkers to take different licenses under different Acts.
Also, the Indian government is pursuing a policy of allowing foreign fishing vessels through LOP and other means when there is opposition from Indian fishermen in 13 to 200 nautical miles. The policy is to deprive the traditional fishers livelihood by commercializing the fishing business by bringing in various merchant shipping acts. There is opposition to this and state and central government boats should be registered under one window scheme.
Since 2014, there have been unprecedented natural calamities, and relief has not been available for the affected fishworkers In addition, a strategic decision to waive excise duty and excise duty on petroleum products should be included in the bill.
In addition, Section 9 to 13 is the policy.
MMKS opposes these sections in the Bill and demands that it be withdrawn and redirected in consultation with traditional fishers
There should be a detailed consultation on the provisions of the draft Mariticulture Policy, the draft National Fisheries Policy, the Draft Merchant Shipping Act and the draft policy framework on India’s blue economy. MMKS seeks to harmonize these policies with marijuana, recreational fishing and its provisions.
Comparing the draft National Fisheries Policy with the Indian Marine Fisheries Bill, it is fundamentally against the interests of traditional marine fishermen, fishermen and women fishermen. MMKS is of the opinion that the draft bill is curtailing the fishing rights of Marine Capture Fishers. This Bill should be deferred and not placed in the Parliament.
Narendra Patil, President, NFF
Lio Colaso, President
Ramakrishna Tandel Working President
Kiran Koli General Secretary
Mrs. Jyoti Meher, Palghar / Thane Women’s Organizer, Secretary NFF
Mrs. Ujwala Patil, Mumbai Women’s Organizer
Moreshwar Vaiti, Secretary
Ulhas Watkar, Secretary