Sagar Matsyajibi Forum, the branch of Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Fotum (DMF) in Sagar Island (Block) had been keen to organise workshops on Preferential Access for Small Scale Fish Workers to Marine Fish Resources & Coastal Regulation Zone Notification-2019 to develop a common and in depth understanding of the issues related with these. 25 representatives from eight fish landing centres of the island alongwith two representatives from the women fish workers’ unit attended the workshop. President of Sagar Matsyajibi Forum, Himangshu Mondal presided over and Abdar Mallick, Secretary of Sagar Matsyajibi Forum coordinated the workshop. Pradip Chatterjee, President of DMF and Convener of the National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers (Inland) was the main speaker while Milan Das, General Secretary of DMF elucidated some points raised in the workshop. Sri Himangshu Mondal, President, Sagar Matsyajibi Forum welcomed everybody and requested active participation. Pradip Chatterjee, the main speaker, said that he is sorry that he could not manage time to translate the presentations in Bengali. He promised to prepare and distribute a Bengali version within one month. The presentation on preferential access for small scale fishers to marine fish resources stressed on the following points – First, it defined the small scale fish workers as those who directly take part in the work in fishing, who work mainly for subsistence and not mainly for commercial purpose and who do not exploit other peoples’ labour. Second, it advocated for preferential access for small scale fishers because small scale fishing is more sustainable, more traditional and more equitable. Third, it described how the mechanised sector has increased its share of the total marine fish catch from less than 15% in 1961 to more than 80% in 2018 and, conversely, how the small scale fishing sector’s share has fallen from more than 85% in 1961 to less than 20% in 2018. Fourth, it showed that most of the catch taken by the mechanised fishing sector was from the near shore (0 to 100 mtrs. depth) area where the small scale fishers fish. Thus, the mechanised sector has been directly responsible for over fishing in the near shore areas and for shortage of fish for the small scale sector. Fifth, it showed that the number and capacity of the mechanised fishing boats has been more than double the optimum and those of the small fishing boats have been much less than the optimum as recommended by fisheries expert committee. Then it recommended following steps to ensure preferential access of small scale fishing communities to marine fish resources applying the principle of subsidiarity – – Fishing effort should match with maximum sustainable yield; – Moratorium on registration of new mechanised boats; – Stoppage of subsidy and assistance on fuel, boats and nets for mechanised sector; – To ensure that fishing effort matches sustainable yield – reduction of number and effort of the existing mechanised fleet; – Extension of the exclusive fishing zone of the small scale fishers upto 12 nautical miles in general and even more as required in specific areas; – 6 months fishing ban on mechanised sector, 3 months ban on motorised sector with livelihood support for small fishers and no ban on manual fishing; – Right of first catch should be with the small scale sector, mechanised sector to have the residue; – Ban on destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling, purse seining, fishing with LED lights and fish finders. – Protection of livelihood rights of small scale fishing communities in the marine or coastal protected areas. Pradip Chatterjee updated the participants regarding the present status of the struggle for preferential access – – The National Policy for Marine Fisheries (NPMF) has accepted principle of subsidiarity as its basic policy direction; – NPMF has admitted the need for extension of exclusive fishing area for small scale fishers; – NPMF has also accepted protection of livelihood rights of small scale fishing communities in the marine or coastal protected areas. – The Government of India has banned Bull Trawling and LED Light Fishing in the sea beyond territorial waters. – He suggested continuous struggle for preferential access to marine fish resources as this has been the lifeline of the small scale fisheries. Next subject was Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2019 (CRZ-2019). The presentation made by Pradip Chatterjee comprised of – – History of CRZ Notification including the effort of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the struggle of fishing communities with the historic Kanyakumari March (1989) and Macchimar Rastriyo Adhikar Yatra (2008) as well as the background of three CRZ Notifications of 1991, 2011 and 2019; – Fundamental weaknesses in the successive CRZ Notifications; – Clause by clause analysis of CRZ-2019 Notification to show how it has further opened up the coast to the loot of the corporate and business houses. Milan Das suggested that DMF should work to build up nation wide rejection of CRZ-2019. The participants resolved to organise meetings at fish landing centres to aware the fishing communities on these very important issues and build up strong resistance. They demanded awareness materials in Bengali. DMF leaders assured them that the materials will be made available in the earliest.