Conservation versus Livelihood of Fishworkers
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court of India to take up the matter of Olive Ridley sea turtle conservation along the Orissa coast, made a visit to the Orissa coastal areas on 12th & 13th of February 2004. According to the Orissa Traditional Fish Workers Union (OTFWU) that represents the interests of fishworkers of the traditional sector in all 6 coastal districts of Orissa, there was no intimation of the CEC site visit to them. Previously the CEC visited Orissa in February 2003 and then based on their findings it issued interim directions dated 7th March 2003. Based on thses directions, the Orissa Government had taken several drastic measures, which included a complete ban on all fishing operations in the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, Dhamara fishing zone, the areas between the Jatadhari mouth and Devi river mouth and the area between the Chilka mouth and the Rushikulya river mouth.
According to OTFWU, about 100,000 traditional fishworkers earn their livelihood from marine fishing in Orissa coast. Out of these 52,500 are active sea going fishermen and rest engage in shore based fishing activities. Throughout the coast the crafts used consist of shore-based traditional/ artisanal non-motorized and small-motorized crafts e.g. wooden boats and fibre reinforced beach landing crafts known variously as tepa, nauka/ nava, balal tepa, catamaran and the fibre BLCs etc. However in the coastal areas of Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrakh there are mechanised boats using non-mechanised (manual) fishing methods.
In the year 1998 the High Power Committee of the State Government recommended that the Sanctuary be divided into a core and buffer zone where no fishing would be allowed in the core area but certain fishing practices would be allowed in the buffer area. The Union feels that this whimsical restrictions imposed on fishing allow for a great deal of harassment of the fisherfolk in these areas. Primarily fishing is prohibited in the core area but in order to pass to the buffer zone one has to travel through the core area. This has resulted in considerable amount of harassment of fisherfolk and a great deal of violence by the Forest Department.
The OTFWU avers that the traditional fishing community in Orissa Marine fisherfolk in Orissa is one of the most backward communities. Development has meant little for this community. Very few fishing villages have a good road, safe drinking water, electricity, school or any medical facility. Better-located fishing villages with good communication facilities have been developed as tourist centers virtually pushing the fisherfolk out of place of work. The rest remains remote and neglected. Most of them live in thatched or mud cottages and remain highly vulnerable to cyclone, flood and other natural calamities, which is frequent in this part of the country. Although this community lives under precarious conditions there was no dearth of fish, ensuring a livelihood. Unplanned coastal development and poor management policy has led to a sharp and continuous decline in fish catch year after year, which has rendered many active fishermen jobless in recent years.
The conservation efforts would have sustainable benefits only if it is not in serious conflict with the livelihood of the affected population. The absence of efforts on the part of authorities to effect participation of local communities and their representatives like workers’ unions belie the impartial nature of the conservation mechanisms.
