Industrial growth is squeezing Gujarat fishers offshore, community leaders say
Fishermen representatives told the Union government that industrial expansion and Coastal Regulation Zone violations are threatening their traditional livelihoods.
Fishermen representatives have informed the Union government that industrial development along the Gujarat coastline is reducing the space available to traditional fishing communities on land, according to The Times of India.
The concerns were raised during a community consultation in Mangrol to formulate the National Plan of Action (NPOA) for sustainable fisheries and implement voluntary guidelines for small-scale fishers (VG-SSF).
A president of a fishermen’s association stated that industrial expansion is eating into community spaces, while line trawling and the discharge of industrial effluents are damaging marine resources.
Participants called for stricter enforcement of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, protection against displacement, and preferential access to fishing resources.
The group also recommended that the NPOA should include everyone engaged in fishing and allied activities, including migrant workers on vessels, rather than just boat owners.
Damodar Chamodia, president of the Mahavir Machimar Sahakari Mandali, Mangrol, said they have submitted representations to authorities and hope their recommendations are included in the NPOA.
Official sources state there are about 5.50 lakh fishermen in Gujarat, with over 2.50 lakh active fishermen residing in more than 1,000 coastal villages.