(Feature Image: A Konda Reddi tribe rowing a Dhone, a traditional boat, in the Godavari near the Papikonda hills in Alluri Sitarama Raju district. Photo Credit: T. Appala Naidu/ The Hindu)
On occasion of World Fisheries Days 2023, this compilation of important developments from 2023 highlighting the ongoing resistance and struggles of inland as well as coastal fisherfolks in India whose lives and livelihoods have been significantly affected by destructive developmental projects including dams & hydro power projects, increasing pollution and encroachments of water bodies, mechanized mining of sand from rivers & coastal areas, unsustainable fishing and invasive fish species.
The compilation first lists ten most remarkable developments on the issue and then covers the other relevant incidents in section wise manner. In the first part of the series we have highlighted ten positive stories on river fish and fisherfolks of India. The third part has covered the mass fish death incidents in India that have occurred during past one year.
1. Mahadayi Water Dispute Traditional fishermen cast their net of support for Mhadei The fight for Mhadei which is being taken to the Chief Minister’s doorstep at Sanquelim, has been strengthened by the pledge of support for Goa’s strongest sons of the soil and their families- its fishermen. The traditional fishermen from Assolna, Velim, Betul and Chinchinim issued a clarion call of ‘chalo Sanquelim’, urging the public, especially the fishermen community to attend the mega public meeting on Mhadei held in Sanquelim on January 16 2023. Members of the association also emphasised on how important Mhadei river is to Goa and they demanded that action be taken to ensure that the river is protected and that the Karnataka government is not allowed to divert the water. https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Traditional-fishermen-cast-their-net-of-support-for-Mhadei/199416 (12 Jan. 2023)
Villagers oppose water diversion The Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim gram sabha on Feb 5 2023 adopted various resolutions to protect the identity of its villages and also unanimously resolved to oppose the diversion of Mhadei water by Karnataka. Mhadei was the major point of discussion in the meeting. The gram sabha members have alleged that Mhadei water diversion will benefit steel plants in northern Karnataka. “Mhadei water diversion is based on the Gujarat model, under which the water of the Narmada was diverted to industries,” said Olencio Simoes, a gram sabha member and senior functionary of traditional fishermen association. “Mhadei water will benefit steel manufacturing plants in Karnataka.” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/mhadei-like-gujs-narmada-being-diverted-to-industries/articleshow/97627907.cms (6 Feb 2023)
2. Himachal Pradesh NHAI’s muck-dumping destroys Bhakra capacity & its fisheries: HC We hope HC does not stop just at direction of no muck dumping, but fixes responsibility for the muck dumped so far and compensating those that have suffered huge losses.
The HP High Court on May 22 directed the state authorities to ensure that there is no illegal dumping of muck in the Govind Sagar Lake and its feeding khuds/nallahs. The petitioner said the illegal dumping of muck in the reservoir had adversely affected the production of fish and fishermen were not able to earn their livelihood. As per a study by the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), the fish production has drastically reduced from 1492 ton in 2014 to 250 ton in 2022. This drastic reduction in the fish production has badly affected the livelihood of more than 3,000 local families. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/ensure-no-muck-dumping-in-govind-sagar-lake-hc-510323 (23 May 2023)
Fisheries dept seeks end to illegal muck dumping in Bhakra Raising concern over the dwindling fish population, the Bilaspur fisheries department has written to the local administration against illegal muck-dumping in Bhakra dam reservoir and nearby nullahs. On March 25, the fisheries department officials had inspected the spots along the Bhakra reservoir where illegal muck-dumping is done and submitted a report to the district administration. According to the report, the muck from the Kiratpur-Manali highway four-laning work in Bilaspur section is not being dumped at the designated spots. The report states that the muck is being dumped into the reservoir at a number of spots including at Barmana bridge, Bharari, Baloh and Thapna flyover and also into the Gambhur khad, a prominent rivulet that flows through the Bilaspur district.
Raghunathpura-Mandi Bharari road is being built by the Himachal Pradesh Road and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd and the railways is laying down rail tracks for the Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Beri line. All this will affect the breeding grounds of fish and may result in a drop in total fish production. Last month, the CIFRI had blamed muck-dumping in the Bhakra reservoir as one of the main reasons for substantial decrease in fish production over the years.
Bilaspur-based Fourlane Visthapit and Prabahavit Samiti (FVPS) has written to the district mining department to measure the quantity of muck dumped along the Bhakra reservoir. “Illegal muck-dumping is not only killing the fish in the Bhakra reservoir but has even stopped the natural flow of at least 20 nullahs. The NHAI has dumped debris right where the culverts are, thereby blocking the natural flow of nullahs,” said FVPS general secretary Madan Sharma. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shimla/hp-fisheries-dept-seeks-end-to-illegal-muck-dumping-in-bhakra/articleshow/99104408.cms (30 March 2023)
Bhakra dam losing fish due to dumping of road construction waste CIFRI has reported to Himachal Pradesh’s fisheries department how this silt has damaged the breeding and feeding grounds of various fish species in Bilaspur district’s biggest water body.
HP fisheries director Satpal Mehta said: “We got the CIFRI to conduct this study last year to know why the fish had become fewer. It pointed us to silt coming from the highway project since 2014. The other reasons include the construction of the Kol dam and irregular in monsoon, which is a breeding season.” The Kol dam’s water is released into the Bhakra reservoir, sometimes too much, which has destroyed the fish habitat. In the breeding season, the fish move up the Bhakra’s tributaries to lay eggs but since most of those channels have dried up, this as well has impacted the fish reproduction. The CIFRI has advised the fisheries department to release about Rs 1 crore fish seeds, including those of bigger size, into the Bhakra reservoir.
The contractor that the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has engaged to widen the Kiratpur-Manali road continues to dump muck illegally into the Bhakra reservoir despite stiff opposition from the locals. Four-lane Visthapit and Prabahavit Samiti (FVPS) general secretary Madan Sharma, who represents those ousted or affected by the project, has made futile complaints to the local administration and the NHAI. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shimla/bhakra-losing-fish-due-to-dumping-of-waste-from-road-construction/articleshow/98422274.cms (05 March 2023) Illegal muck dumping by NHAI contractors is harming the capacity of Bhakra Dam. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shimla/illegal-muck-dumping-pollutes-bhakra-dam-reservoir-in-bilaspur/articleshow/97433651.cms (30 Jan. 2023)
3. Tamil Nadu Fishers of Ennore demand their river back At around 10 am on July 26 2023, the loud noise from a construction site inside the Kosasthalaiyar river came to a halt. The construction workers slowly walked out of the river, while the inland fishers from the villages around Ennore surrounded the construction site with their boats. It was an unusual protest, one without black flags or loud slogans. While many of the fishers stayed in their boats, a few of their representatives came down to explain the reason for their protest. Soon the construction site below the Ennore Creek Bridge was packed with hundreds of police personnel.
The protest by the fishers is against the ongoing move by the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation (Tantransco) to install a power transmission tower inside the Ennore Creek Backwaters area of the Kosasthalaiyar River. The fishers allege that Tantransco has also dumped the construction debris to lay an approach road from a point below the Ennore Creek Bridge towards to point inside the river where the transmission tower is to be installed. Raising their concerns about how the installation of a transmission tower and dumping construction debris in the river will affect the river as well as their livelihood, the fishers of 8 villages protested.
With much evidence on paper about the violations and the repeated plea by the fishers, the question remains if the government will wake up to their very real concerns and prevent damage to the river, their lives and livelihood. https://chennai.citizenmatters.in/ennore-fishers-protest-transmission-towers-kosasthalaiyar-river-backwaters-tneb-chennai-79995 (31 July 2023)
Citizens, activists oppose Adani port expansion The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board’s (TNPCB) call for a public hearing on the expansion of Adani group’s Kattupalli Port in Tiruvallur district has evoked sharp responses. Environmentalists, social activists, and climate activists have urged the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider the project and have demanded that the expansion plan be stopped. Those opposing the project have contended that the expansion will impact the Ennore creek, Pulicat lake, Kosasthalaiyar river, Buckingham canal, other water bodies, mangroves, and bird sanctuaries in a 15 km radius.
For years now, fisherfolk in the area have been protesting against the expansion. Nityanand Jayaraman, a Chennai-based writer and social activist wrote, “Erosion triggered by Adani Kattupalli Port has drastically altered shoreline, hurt fishers”. Environmental health researcher and research coordinator Vishvaja Sambath said that the proposed expansion project will affect the livelihood of women fisherfolk. https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/citizens-activists-oppose-adani-port-expansion-chennai-say-stopadanisavechennai-181250 (19 Aug. 2023)
4. Karnataka Fishermen oppose sand mining in rivers Leaders of fishermen association have opposed the sand mining in the rivers that come under the CRZ jurisdiction. The leaders said sand mining would affect fishing activity and their livelihood. Abdul Taqub, president of Bengre Phalguni Traditional Fishermen Association told reporters here that sand mining from rivers destroys algae, shellfish, cowry, prawns which are the lifeline and livelihood of so many fishermen and their families. He said rivers were already facing a shortage of fish. He said due to sand mining fishermen have the danger of losing their lives when they venture into deep river fishing.
Abdul Taqub said they had already met the deputy commissioner and submitted their request but said they had not got any response. He said there is no provision to undertake sand mining in Netravati, Gurpur and Phalguni rivers. He said there are 17 sand mounds from Netravati and Kuloor which come under the deputy commissioner’s jurisdiction. He said the survey undertaken by the DC is not adequate as there are no fishermen in the panel. He said if permission is given for sand mining in rivers the fishermen would be forced to stage protests on the streets. https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1031645 (21 Dec. 2022)
What is the need for sand extraction in CRZ rivers: Fishermen The Dakshina Kannada District Traditional Fishermen Association on Dec. 20 2022 said that when the traditional fishermen did not face any navigation problem due to purported sandbars in Phalguni (Gurupura) and Netravati rivers under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), it was surprising that the district sand monitoring committee has identified 17 sandbars to issue sand extraction permits.
Association joint secretary Rithesh D’Souza said that the survey to identify sandbars was wholly unscientific. No representative of traditional fishermen was included in the committee. “When we do not have any problem to navigate our boats in the rivers, it is an irony that in the name of facilitating smooth navigation channel, the administration was attempting to ruin our life,” he said. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/what-is-the-need-for-sand-extraction-in-crz-rivers-ask-traditional-fishermen/article66285857.ece (20 Dec. 2022)
5. Maharashtra NGT orders to bring inland aquaculture under EIA regime A recent judgement by the NGT, Western Zone bench, concerning aquaculture practices in Vadivale Lake at Maval taluka of Pune, is likely to have far-reaching implications for the industry nation-wide. The NGT has mandated that the industry as a whole be brought under tighter regulatory scrutiny by applying the terms of the EIA Notification and bringing the practice under the consent regime of the Water Act implemented by the centre and state pollution control boards.
The NGT’s judgement, dated Feb 27 2023, followed a 2022 execution application filed by a Mumbai-based NGO, Vanashakti, which through previous legal efforts had secured a May 2021 order from the NGT’s principal bench, in which the latter formed a six-member committee to study the sustainability of inland aquaculture practices. The aforesaid expert committee found that in the instance of Vadivale Lake, there was indeed a measurable impact on the local ecology. The outfall of the lake is in Indrayani river which is a source of drinking water for 28 villages and parts of Pune city, the NGT had previously observed.
“It is also evident that there is a need to bring inland aquaculture under the Environment Impact Assessment regime,” the NGT remarked in its Feb 27 judgement, leaving the Union environment ministry to consider the matter further. “As regards to the cage aquaculture activity to be brought under consent regime, the necessary steps shall be taken by the CPCB as well as MPCB within three months,” the NGT instructed. The MPCB has also been directed to take appropriate action within a month, under the provisions of the Water Act against “one Bhardwaj Yadavrao Pagare, who was found to have conducted the cage aquaculture activity in the Vadivale lake with 24 cages and huge pollution load is found because of that activity”. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/ngt-orders-action-on-polluting-fish-farm-mandates-nation-wide-strict-regulations-101678047108586.html (06 March 2023)
6. W Bengal NGT orders razing of Sundarbans hotel NGT has ordered the demolition of a luxury hotel-cum-private tourist resort in Dulki village at Gosaba in South 24 Parganas for violating CRZ notification in the Critically Vulnerable Coastal Area (CVCA) of the Sundarbans.
A petition was filed by the Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum (DMF), an organization working for small-scale fisherfolks of southern Bengal, before the Eastern Zonal Bench, Kolkata of the NGT highlighting the illegal construction of Hotel Sonar Bangla Sundarban. The hotel, which covers an area of 8.5 acres along the Datta river surrounded by mangroves, is a part of the Hotel Sonar Bangla chain and offers luxury jungle accommodation. However, the construction of the hotel is in blatant violation of the provisions of the CRZ Notification envisaged by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change, they alleged. The DMF members said the demolition of the hotel will serve as a deterrent against any future violation of CRZ norms and protect the critically vulnerable coastal ecology of the Sundarbans. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/ngt-orders-razing-of-sundarbans-hotel/articleshow/98076988.cms; https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/ngt-directs-authorities-to-demolish-hotel-constructed-in-sundarbans/article66528389.ece (19 Feb. 2023)
Water, livelihoods dry up for fish farmers of EKW The fish farmers of East Kolkata Wetlands are fast losing their farm water. Once a major breeding spot of fish such as rui, katla, pona, telapiya, tyangra, parshe, bhetki, chitol and galda chingri, the wetlands are drying up mainly due to the diversion of wastewater from Kolkata city to Vidyadhari river. Developed and perfected by humans over the last century, the wetlands serve as natural sewage treatment unit of Kolkata, while also promoting fisheries and vegetable cultivation. The Bantala Canal area on its eastern side receives most of the sewage from the metropolis.
“When the sewage accumulates at a height of 9 ft, the wetlands that house 200 fish farms receive water for pisciculture. For the fish ponds to benefit, this water level should be maintained at all times of the year,” explained Bantala resident Sudhir Sardar. If the sewage level is above 9 ft at Bantala station, the water flows to the farms. Conversely, if it falls to 8 ft or below, the water will not reach the wetlands.
Environmentalist Sourav Chakraborti is convinced that local goons, ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), realtors and the police have formed a nexus. “They are trapping poor farmers by cutting off the water supply, thus forcing them to sell off fish farms to realtors. Old-timers say the real estate syndicate dates back to the 1990s,” Chakraborti said.
NGT order not implemented In 2020, local NGO Laban Hrad Matsyachashi Kalyan Samiti filed a public interest litigation in the Calcutta High Court on the issues faced by fish farmers. In Dec 2022, the court ordered demolition of buildings constructed in the area. However, police or municipal authorities are yet to act. “An atmosphere of fear makes many remain silent. Even if they suffer, they refrain from talking about it. I can name three fishermen — Rabi Ghosh, Tapan Pandit and Roga Jasmin — who have been untraceable ever since they approached the police. That is why we moved court on their behalf,” said Sardar. https://odishabytes.com/water-livelihoods-dry-up-for-fish-farmers-of-east-kolkata-wetlands/ (25 March 2023)
7. Maharashtra Worli fisherfolk win pier fight with BMC An over four-year-long battle between Worli fisherfolk and the BMC’s Coastal Road wing has culminated in victory for the former. The BMC has said that their request for a navigation span of 120 m between two piers has been accepted, instead of 56 m, BMC’s original proposal (revised to 60 m). Worli fisherfolk had demanded increasing the distance between piers to 200 m to facilitate unhindered and safe access to fishing grounds in the open sea. The chief engineer of the Coastal Road project, Mantayya Swami, said that the navigation span of 120 m will be only between piers 7-9, while it will be 60 m for the remaining.
The BMC’s move, conveyed in a letter sent on Dec. 12 2022, followed a request to CM Eknath Shinde on Oct 7, who directed the appointment of a committee of experts to scrutinize the issues being faced by fisherfolk. The committee stated that the navigation span gap could be increased till 120 m. The BMC’s letter was met with massive celebrations in Worli Koliwada, where a procession was taken out to thank the local deity. Nitesh Patil, chairman of the Worli Nakhwa Matsya Vyavsay Sahakari Society (WNMVSS), said, “We are very happy that our efforts have borne fruit. While our demand was for increasing the span to 200 m, we are satisfied with the middle path that has been worked out,” said Patil. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/worli-fisherfolk-win-pier-fight-with-bmc-span-to-be-120-m/articleshow/96237405.cms (15 Dec. 2022)
CRP: BMC start giving compensation In a relief to fisherfolks affected due to the construction of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (south), the BMC recently disbursed ₹15.4 crore as compensation for 170 fishermen from the Worli-Koliwada and Lotus jetty area. Nitesh Patil, president of the WKNMVSS said, “We are happy that the BMC has finally started disbursing compensation. Fisherfolks are paid compensation with an 8% interest.”
An official from BMC said that due to drilling, piling, noise, vibrations, etc., it was learnt that fisherfolks suffered huge losses as fish stopped breeding in that area. “Hence, the compensation was decided, and the compensation from Oct 2018 to Oct 2022 is paid till now. Further compensation will also be paid till the work of the coastal road is completed,” the official added. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/coastal-road-project-south-bmc-starts-giving-compensation-pays-15-4-crore-to-170-fishermen-101694717978980.html (15 Sept. 2023) The BMC has informed the Bombay High Court that it will not prevent fishermen from using the Lotus jetty during construction of the Coastal Road project. The BMC said the land was never intended for parking fishing vessels indefinitely and rejected the fishermen’s plea to stop the work until an alternative site was provided. However, the fishermen have been granted the liberty to apply for compensation and alternate parking space for their trawlers. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/dont-intend-to-prevent-fishermen-from-using-lotus-jetty-bmc-to-hc-101694373115813.html (11 Sept. 2023)
8. Outdated biosecurity measures letting invasive species thrive The African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was introduced to east India from Bangladesh in the early 1990s as a source of food. Its breeding and import are now banned by India’s agriculture ministry because it harms aquatic biodiversity. These hardy fishes thrive in polluted water and feed on native fish. However, they continue to be reared clandestinely across the country because of their low-cost meat. These fish frequently escape unregulated aquaculture farms and enter waterbodies.
To trace their eDNA, a non-invasive alternative to traditional visual surveys, the scientists tested eDNA in waterbodies of Hyderabad. They found that 11 of the 12 samples showed it’s presence.
Patchy enforcement of regulations, lack of legal oversight or crosstalk between government agencies, limited documentation of impacts and low public awareness hinder efforts to check such invasive alien species (IAS) in India. A recent report by the IPBES said only 17% countries have national legislation specific to the control and management of IAS. India is among the countries that don’t, despite specific targets related to IAS mandated in its National Biodiversity Action Plan. https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-023-00149-2 (03 Oct. 2023)
Senior plant ecologist Ankila Hiremath, ATREE: Currently, we invoke a number of existing legislations and policies to deal with invasive species, for example, the Environment Protection Act, the Livestock Importation Act, the Plant Quarantine Rules. But some of these existed before invasive species were ever recognised as an issue.
Also, responsibility is divided across many different government departments and agencies, for instance, the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources and Animal Genetic Resources that deal with quarantine issues are responsible for prevention of introductions. This creates challenges for a comprehensive approach to the prevention and management of invasive species. We need a single comprehensive legislation devised specifically to deal with invasive species. And there needs to be a single nodal agency responsible. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/interviews/wildlife-biodiversity/india-needs-a-single-comprehensive-policy-to-tackle-invasive-species-ankila-hiremath-91535 (04 Sept. 2023)
As for India, the latest IPBES report had only one reference about the spread of Caribbean false mussels damaging locally important fishery resources in Kerala. The problem is much bigger and severe. Prof Mahesh Sankaran, National Centre for Biological Sciences, said a request was made to the Centre to frame a policy on invasive species management, but that hasn’t happened yet. In India, when someone spots invasive alien species, nobody is able to identify it. “Our biosecurity measures are weak. The customs office at airports rarely checks if anyone is carrying invasive species plants.” https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/sep/09/over-120-billion-lost-in-60-years-the-corrosive-grip-of-invasives-on-indias-biodiversity-2613283.html (09 Sept. 2023)
9. Freshwater species bucking a climate change trend “One widely expected result of global warming is that animal body size is going to go down,” says Olaf Jensen, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Center for Limnology. Shrinking sizes is what Jensen and his collaborators expected to find when they began their analysis of a dozen different species of freshwater salmonids.
Instead, the resulting study — published on Mar 8, 2023 in the journal Global Change Biology — told a different tale. Not only are many species of freshwater salmonids — which include trout, whitefish and their relatives — not shrinking in size, several are actually getting bigger.
This trend puts these fishes at odds with what’s known in ecology as “Bergmann’s Rule,” which states that individuals in most species of animals get smaller closer to the Equator and bigger closer to the poles. The reasoning behind the trend, which generally holds true for all sorts of animals, is that evolution favors larger animals in colder climates because they can better retain body heat and regulate their temperature, while smaller animals can readily shed excess body heat at hotter latitudes. They focused primarily on body-length measurements and found that, over time, only four of their 12 study species were following the predicted script, with current adult fish growing to smaller sizes than fish from past generations. The remaining two-thirds of the species they studied were getting bigger.
Jensen says this development may have a lot to do with how climate change is reshaping our winters. Typically, winter months are a period of very slow growth for fish. Now, however, ice cover durations are shrinking as water temperatures stay warmer longer into the fall and warm up sooner in spring. The end result could be longer growing seasons for fish, and increased growth rates in aquatic ecosystems throughout the northern hemisphere. Another hypothesis is that warmer aquatic habitats tend to simply be more productive, with balmy waters encouraging increased growth of the plankton, plants and invertebrates at the base of the food web and resulting in more “fish food” for growing salmonids. https://indiaeducationdiary.in/study-reveals-various-freshwater-species-are-bucking-one-climate-change-trend/ (08 March 2023)
10. Farakka blocks Hilsa As per CIFRI, the Farakka Barrage at the Ganga river is the primary barrier for the migration of hilsa fish. Hence, it would be convenient from a migration point of view if the hilsas are caught downstream and released upstream. However, an expert, skeptical of the experiment said, “The possibility of the survival of eggs is less than two percent. The tag recovery rate of hilsa is also low. In most cases, the water predators end up consuming the eggs. Besides, the survival of hilsa is also dependent on many environmental and geophysical factors like temperature, flow, and velocity.”
In response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by this journalist, the Central Water Commission says, “Farakka Barrage has no fish ladder. There are two fish lock gates, and they are currently closed… As per the records available in the office, this gate has been working since 1998. At present, this gate is being replaced by a new one and the replacement work is going on.” In response to a question about whether the movement of hilsa is getting affected due to the fish lock gate, the commission said, “There is no record available in our office that the fish ladder gate has affected the movement of hilsa.”
Nachiket Kelkar, head of the Riverine Ecosystem and Livelihood Program at Mumbai’s Wildlife Conservation Trust said, “Re-operation of dams and barrages is the only way for hilsa to migrate upstream. In the areas where hilsa is found, they have already been over-hunted. Therefore, it does not seem that the income of fisherfolk can be increased with the help of hilsas. Continued management and regulation is essential for hilsa conservation, as they are reduced or limited to much of their historical range & density.” https://india.mongabay.com/2023/01/challenges-abound-to-conserve-the-popular-hilsa-fish/ (17 Jan. 2023)
Fisheries affected by Dams & Hydro Projects
Andhra Pradesh A swansong for Dhone boats of Bison hills in Godavari The Konda Reddi and Koya tribes, which are set to be displaced from the Polavaram project submergence areas, have to abandon their traditional boats as there is no river near the place of rehabilitation.
“Our village has the highest number of four Dhones in the two panchayats. By next monsoon, we have to abandon the boats which have been the real breadwinners of our families since generations. We are being rehabilitated to Buttayagudem. We will go away from our lifeline, the Godavari,” says Mr. Bojji Reddy. “What will I do with the boat in Buttayagudem where there is no river? I know nothing other than fishing. I am clueless as to how will I earn my livelihood in the rehabilitation colony,” says Mr. Bojji Reddi.
The next summer will be a swansong for the fleet of less than two dozen Dhones that are now in operation in the Godavari. All of them are crafted and owned by Konda Reddi and Koya tribes living in the Papikonda hill range. The fleet is now engaged in fishing between Ippuru and Gonduru range, where every habitation shares an association with Dhones.
V.R. Puram ZPTC Valla Ranga Reddy says: “The irony of the Polavaram project reflects in the case of Dhone as the traditional boat has not been considered for the compensation package. No authority can deny the fact that the boat guarantees livelihood.” The curious case of the compensation package is that even a date palm tree gets ₹90. But a Dhone doesn’t deserve the compensation. What happens if the tribes abandon the Dhones? Mr. Ranga Reddy replies, “Probably, the boats will be left to perish in the Godavari. Our association with Dhones will be a thing of past.” https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/a-swansong-for-dhone-boats-of-bison-hills-in-godavari-of-andhra-pradesh/article66304240.ece (26 Dec. 2022)
Polavaram Project gates’ closure affects fishermen Closure of Polavaram dam gates snatched away the livelihood source of fishermen. They lamented that they couldn’t catch fish in large numbers in Godavari River for the last two months and are incurring loss as they have to spend on diesel for the boats. There are about 9,200 fishermen in West Godavari district as per Fisheries department officials. A few years ago, fishermen enjoyed a roaring business as Godavari fish was tasty and in high demand. But floods and rains including closure of dam gates in the recent months have made them lose their livelihood. https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/polavaram-irrigation-project-gates-closure-affects-fishermen-777191 (11 Jan. 2023)
Madhya Pradesh Govt should stake claim for fishermen: Patkar The state govt should stake its claim for rights of fishermen before the Narmada Control Authority (NCA), said Narmada Bachao Andolan’s activist Medha Patkar. Patkar said that the NCA meeting will be convened on April 24 in Delhi for formation of a board of three states—Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat–for fishing rights in Sardar Sarovar reservoir. She said that Maharashtra has registered 21 cooperative societies for fishermen but Madhya Pradesh is yet to register its 31 fishermen cooperative societies. If the board is constituted Gujarat will have its dominance on fishing and the Madhya Pradesh fishermen will be in great loss and so the state govt should put its claim in the NCA meeting. https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/bhopal-mp-government-should-stake-claim-for-fishermen-in-narmada-water-dispute-tribunal-says-medha-patkar (20 April 2023)
Arunachal Pradesh Large dams spell doom While people have vociferously protested against big dams—most recently against the proposed 3,097-MW Etalin Hydroelectric Project in Dibang Valley—go-aheads have been given on the basis of botched-up reports in favour of the projects.
The SANDRP assessment underlined how the river would be severely fragmented by the six dams, thus damaging the ecology. “All the migratory routes and spawning grounds of endangered fish like Trouts and Golden Mahseer… will be destroyed,” it said. https://frontline.thehindu.com/environment/why-large-dams-spell-doom-for-arunachal-pradesh/article67399432.ece (19 Oct. 2023)
The Effects of Kameng (Bichom Dam) HEP The Downstream villages has sought the intervention of the Govt and NEEPCO. They stated that it’s led to the extinction of many fish and other aquatic species, the disappearance of birds in floodplains, and huge losses of the forest, wetlands and farmland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGgBuNY3hqE (30 Jan. 2023)
Fishing Rights
Bihar Paradox of Kanwar wetlands: Fishermen want bigger lake, farmers a dry patch Bihar’s only Ramsar site, Kanwar Lake is the source of livelihood for around 20,000 fishermen in 16 villages located on its banks. However, the depletion of this wetland due to manmade factors has dashed their hopes of a decent living, according to fisherman Mallah Rajo Sahni (53). The local fishermen are fully dependent on the lake and do not own agricultural lands. They want the wetland to be as expansive as possible so that they will get a better catch. Ironically, local farmers interests lie in perpetual contradiction with that of the fishermen.
“Several mauzas (revenue villages) were included under the Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary, making farming in the notified areas illegal. A ban on land sale deteriorated our condition. We are unable to raise money even for marriages in our families,” says Anmol Kumar Sharan of Manjhaul village. “It is okay to declare the place a wetland, but do it only where water is present. The rights of farmers should be restored on the rest of the land,” Sharan demands.
Being part of the wetland complexes in the interface of Burhi Gandak and Kosi rivers, the Kanwar wetland connects to the Gandak through a canal, now choking with silt. This has compromised the inflow-outflow mechanism to turn the wetland into a shallow marsh. Fishermen have repeatedly sought canal desiltation, but the state govt has shown the least interest. https://101reporters.com/article/environment/The_paradox_of_Kanwar_wetlands_Fishermen_want_a_bigger_lake_farmers_a_dry_patch (24 Feb. 2023)
Assam HC upholds notification on Deepor Beel WS Guwahati High Court recently upheld the notification issued by state govt declaring an area of 4.1 sqkm of the water body commonly known as the “Deepor Beel” a Wildlife Sanctuary under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The Court was hearing an intra-court appeal filed by Assam govt against the order of Dec 21, 2017 by a Single Judge setting aside the notification dated Feb 21, 2009 issued by the Assam Govt.
The notification dated Feb 21, 2009 was challenged on the ground that the same was issued without following the due process of law & without taking into account the traditional fishing rights enjoyed by the petitioners. It was submitted that there was a requirement under the law to publish the proclamation issued under Section 21 (Proclamation by Collector) of the Act in the neighbourhood of the declared area which was never done. The petition said mere publication of the proclamation in the newspaper would not be in sufficient compliance of the mandate of Section 21. https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/gauhati-high-court-assam-government-notification-deepor-beel-single-bench-ruling-224795 (26 March 2023)
W Bengal Malda: Fishermen cry foul at ‘water tax’ Fishermen based in Manikchak block of Malda district have alleged that they are being compelled to pay “water tax” to a local cooperative society for fishing in the Ganga. Hareram Choudhury, one of the 3,000-odd fishermen who catch fish along a 10km stretch of the Ganga that flows through the block, said that the members of the Rajkumartola Dhibar Samabay Samiti gather daily on the riverbank soon after the former return from fishing. There, as fishermen sell their catch to wholesale merchants, the samiti members collect 20 per cent of the sale proceeds from each fisherman in the name of “water tax.”
Representatives of the cooperative society, claimed they had the right to collect such a tax for fishing in the Ganga. Anil Mondal, a member of the samiti, said that in 2020, the society had taken a stretch of the Ganga and some other local water bodies on lease from Malda Zilla Parishad. “We pay an annual levy of Rs 11.55 lakh to the zilla parishad and have the right to collect the tax from fishermen. Whatever we are doing is legal. If we are barred from collecting the tax, we will challenge the order in a court,” said Mondal, adding, the cooperative society had 405 members. https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/malda-fishermen-cry-foul-at-water-tax/cid/1929057 (12 April 2023)
Rivers, Wetlands Pollution & Encroachments
Kerala ‘Vembanand lake storage capacity down by 85%’ The water retention capacity of Vembanad lake has got reduced by 85% in the past 120 years due to massive encroachment and destruction of its ecosystem, says a five-year comprehensive study report on Vembanad wetland system done by scientists at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos). The report prepared by the Centre for Aquatic Resources Management and Conservation for the state govt calls for a master plan to address the challenge of pollution, flooding and drought in the lake and associated areas and to revive the wetland system.
Plastic pollution in Vembanad lake is much higher than reported from most estuaries world over. There is a marked change in the geomorphology of the rivers in the Vembanad system and the inflow of floodwaters to the coastal belt is much higher than the combined outflow from Thottappally spillway and Cochin barmouth. The cross-sectional area of rivers draining to the lake has narrowed at several stretches due to large-scale encroachments of river banks and construction of bridges across the rivers.
The current fish diversity is at 90 species which is a 40% decrease in diversity against the 150 species reported in 1980s. Two distinct fish assemblages were recorded on either side of the Thanneermukkom Barrage indicating a lack of, or reduced habitat connectivity. The study has revealed a highly degraded, dysfunctional, and debilitated Vembanad wetland system that affects the lives and livelihood of around eight million people in Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts. The wetland system has seen what the study called “alarming depth shrinkage” of the south and central Vembanad Lake. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/vembanand-lake-storage-capacity-down-by-85/articleshow/98766103.cms; https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/fisheries-varsity-study-reveals-a-highly-degraded-vembanad-wetland-system/article66634994.ece (18 Mar 2023)
ATREE’s yearly fish count, which has become a celebrated event, recently revealed an alarming trend. The fish found in the survey were mostly freshwater species and their count had dwindled to 47 from 150. Not only that, the water samples taken from 15 points in the lake tested for zero salinity. “This means that the lake is slowly turning into a freshwater system,” Tojo said. With summer rains intensifying on account of climate change, now even if the bunds are opened, it is unlikely that the brackish seawater can push back the fast-moving river waters flowing into the lake. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/jan/23/are-houseboats-to-blame-for-theslow-ruin-of-keralas-backwaters-2540428.html (23 Jan. 2023)
Eloor’s residents try to save Periyar This highlights impact of industrial pollution on aquatic life and local people along lower stretches of Periyar in Eloor. There are agitations and legal cases have been filed by concerned citizens to save the river.
Once it was an island of rich farmland on the Periyar River, 17 km (10.5 miles) from the Arabian sea, teeming with fish. Now, a stench of putrid flesh permeates the air. Most of the fish are gone. Locals say people living near the river are hardly even having children anymore. Some 300 chemical companies belch out dense fumes, almost warning people to stay away. The waters have taken on dark hues. Many of the petrochemical plants here are more than five decades old. They produce pesticides, rare earth elements, rubber processing chemicals, fertilizers, zinc-chrome products and leather treatments.
Residents say the industries take in large amounts of freshwater from the Periyar and discharge concentrated wastewater with almost no treatment. Residents have periodically risen up against the factories in the form of protests. Demonstrations began in 1970, when the village first witnessed thousands of fish dying. Both die-offs and protests happened again many times after that, said Shabeer Mooppan, a long-time resident who has often demonstrated. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/eloors-residents-try-to-save-river-officials-deny-problems/article66723734.ece (11 April 2023)
W Bengal Urbanisation is killing EKW Wetlands just outside India’s Kolkata city have for generations provided tonnes of food daily and thousands of jobs as they filter sewage through fish ponds. But rapid urbanisation is threatening the ecosystem. Conservationists warn that pollution and strong-arm land grabs are putting a lifeline for the megacity’s 14 million residents at risk. “We are destroying the environment,” said Tapan Kumar Mondal, who has spent his life farming fish in the ingenious system of canals and ponds stretching across about 125 sq km. “The population… has increased, there is a pressure on nature, they are ruining it,” the 71-yr-old added.
Listed as a wetland of global importance under the United Nations Ramsar Convention, the waters offer natural climate control by cooling sweltering temperatures – and act as valuable flood defences for low-lying Kolkata. But Dhruba Das Gupta, from the environmental group SCOPE, said short-sighted building development was encroaching on the wetlands. “The wetlands are shrinking,” said the researcher, who is trying to finance a study of what is left of the waters. https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/7/18/kidneys-of-kolkata-how-urbanisation-is-killing-indian-wetlands (18 July 2023) The drastic transformation of the East Kolkata Wetlands in the past few years has prompted an artist to use her interdisciplinary art practice to spread awareness about its importance and bring city dwellers closer to the green space. https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/places/a-portrait-of-visva-bharati-passout-artist-nobina-gupta-as-an-east-kolkata-wetlands-soldier/cid/1907808 (04 Jan. 2023)
Assam Degradation of waterbodies affecting fish production Assam dreams of becoming self-sufficient in fish production by 2026. Assam’s annual production has increased to 4.32 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 from 3.93 lakh tonnes in 2020-21. However, it is a paradox that despite being endowed with a large number of wetlands and a vast river network of the Brahmaputra, Barak and their tributaries the state needs to procure 10-15 Tons fish every day from other states.
According to official estimates, beels in Assam have a potential for fish production of more than 1000 kg per ha annually but the production is less than 500 kg/Ha/per year. The degradation of the ecosystem of many beels due to siltation, pollution and other factors has also led to declining productivity. Failure to conserve these floodplain wetlands in Assam will lead to the permanent loss of a huge natural endowment of quality and nutrient local fish production. The river network in the state also has been playing a crucial role in providing livelihood to lakhs of fishermen but the indiscriminate sand mining has destroyed the ecology of several rivers resulting in a decline in fish production not just in these rivers but also the floodplain wetland of these rivers.
Fish stock in the Kulsi river and Dora beel, famous for its natural stock of fish and huge fish production, has depleted posing a threat to the survival of the population of state aquatic animal-river dolphin, locally known as Xihu. The fish productivity of Dora beel has declined alarmingly as the flow regime of Kusli has changed due to the destruction of the river bed and the process of auto-stocking of fish seeds in the beel by the river has been adversely affected.
The Fishery dept has estimated a total requirement of about Rs 4,000 crore for the state to become self-sufficient in fish production. The trend of underutilization of funds from the Central Govt, however, indicates that the dept needs to enhance its capacity for fund utilization. https://www.sentinelassam.com/editorial/assams-stake-in-indias-blue-revolution-626837 (7 Dec 2022)
Tamil Nadu Powering Pollution The study conducted by Poovulagin Nanbargal and Manthan Adhyayan Kendra in the Neyveli and Parangipettai regions of the Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu between Dec 2022 and July 2023 has shown that the water sources in the area – including drinking and domestic use water, air quality and soil have all been severely affected by fly-ash, coal dust and high concentration of heavy metals in surface and groundwater due to discharge of mine water and effluents from the thermal power plants. This has led to serious health problems for local communities. It has also impacted health of livestock, and resulted in falling yields and quality of agricultural produce, all ultimately impacting livelihoods.
Victims of land acquisition in Neyveli continue to suffer due to many outstanding problems like inadequate or no compensation, multiple displacement, lack of promised jobs, and loss of livelihoods. In Parangipettai, fishing communities are facing loss of access to traditional fishing route and reduction in the quality and quantity of fish, all affecting their incomes and livelihoods. https://www.manthan-india.org/poweringpollution/
SPCB shuts down 3 prawn processing units The SPCB has shut down three prawn processing units in Thoothukudi district to reduce pollution in the ‘Upper Odai’ river. A senior SPCB official said that King Aqua Plant, Nisha Sea Foods & SRK sea foods are closed down. Falling under the orange category of industries, these units are engaged in peeling, de-veining & washing prawns.
The units were shut down following the recommendations of the inspection team of the TNPCB under section 33 of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Section 31 of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981. The power supply to the units were disconnected following the shut-down notice of the SPCB. The action followed people’s protests on the extensive pollution of river Upper Odai which turned pink. https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1044906 (30 Jan. 2023)
W Bengal Plastic contaminant detected in hilsas from Ganga, Hooghly Scientists have detected a plastic contaminant called bisphenol A (BPA) in hilsa in the Ganga’s lower stretches and the Hooghly’s estuary zone, signalling a potential health risk to humans, particularly children who eat this fish. The study, the first to measure BPA concentrations in hilsas in the Ganga, has estimated that children who consume the standard recommended daily fish intake may receive 159 to 775 times the acceptable daily threshold of this contaminant. The scientists from CIFRI asserted that this was a preliminary study. https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/scientists-detect-plastic-contaminant-bisphenol-a-in-hilsa-from-ganga-hooghly-but-no-proof-of-harm-yet/cid/1966864 (17 Sept. 2023)
Uttarakhand Plastic pollution in Ganga; Researchers flag concerns Researchers at Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University have found a new way to detect pollution levels in the Ganga River in Uttarakhand. They claim that microplastics, thermocol and clothing fibres have been found in stomachs of the river fish population, which shows that the Ganga is getting polluted unhindered, besides consuming such fish can have a very adverse effect on human health. https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/aug/26/something-fishy-about-plastic-pollution-in-ganga-researchers-flag-concerns-2608843.html (26 August 2023)
Mumbai Kolis building man-made ponds in Mithi Nestled across Mithi river banks, there once were flourishing Koliwadas, the pride of the Koli community. As recent as 2006, one could fish in the waters of the Mithi, but today, it is dark, the fish are gone, and the Kolis are doing all they can to ensure that they don’t succumb to the same fate. https://indianexpress.com/article/research/we-have-nothing-but-fishing-why-kolis-of-mumbai-are-building-man-made-ponds-in-mithi-river-8288339/ (25 Nov. 2022)
Delhi Pollution hampers fish release drive in Noida stretch On Oct 12 2023, the officials of the fisheries department were to release shoals of fish — 1.25 lakh in all in 2 phases — into the river near Noida (near Okhla bird sanctuary) under the River Ranching Program, which is introduced as a special activity under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). However, the high pollution in the water body prevented them from doing so. As an alternative, they will now let go the fish — including rohu, nain and catla — in the Hapur stretch of Ganga. https://www.indiatoday.in/environment/story/river-ranching-programme-fish-not-released-in-yamuna-noida-2284867-2022-10-13 (13 Oct. 2022)
Mechanized Mining of Sand from Coastal Areas
SANDRP Blog 2022: Riverbed Mining Destroying Indian River Eco-system & Freshwater Species In absence of credible impact assessments, accountable governance systems, transparent monitoring mechanism; the riverbed miners and mafias have been raging havoc on river eco-system and fresh water species in India. The habitats of endangered gharials, turtles in Chambal; gharials in Mahanadi; Mahseer fish, turtles in Narmada; Gangetic dolphins in Brahmaputra rivers; Smooth-coated otters in Cauvery rivers and fish, water birds in Yamuna and Jhelum rivers have faced destruction round the year. The illegal, mechanized riverbed mining have been found destroying the hydrological functions of Yamuna, Ken, Betwa, Sone, Ganga rivers in north and central India. https://sandrp.in/2023/01/20/2022-riverbed-mining-destroying-indian-river-eco-system-freshwater-species/ (20 Jan. 2023)
Jammu & Kashmir Unchecked mining is ruining rivers In three districts, this report found miners breaking several rules. Worse, the mechanism put in place to check such violations was completely absent. Experts say mechanised riverbed mining damages aquatic life by extracting sand and gravel at the bottom of the river, which are key to the nourishment and breeding of fish.
“From the scientific point of view, riverbed mining should be banned,” said Dr Farooz Ahmad Bhat, dean of the faculty of fisheries department, at Sheri Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. “Our research concludes that mining is not feasible for the natural ecosystem of the fish.” https://scroll.in/article/1054434/unchecked-mining-is-ruining-kashmirs-rivers-the-government-is-doing-little-about-it (23 August 2023)
Arunachal Pradesh Rivers facing threat from illegal mining Many of the rivers in Papum Pare district are facing a threat from the ever increasing illegal mining. Rampant sand and stone mining, along with establishment of illegal stone crushers in areas like Kimin, Sangdupota, Sagalee and the capital region, have become a big threat to the environment.
Raising concern over the growing number of stone crushers operating illegally in places like Sopo village here, former president of the All Papum Pare District Students’ Union, Nabam Tado has lodged a complaint with the deputy commissioner. In his letter, Tado alleged that stone crushers are being operated illegally in Sopo village, Doimukh, without licence.
“Unchecked use of huge numbers of crawler excavators, wheeled excavators and dump trucks for extracting minor minerals from the riverbeds of Sopo and Rose villages are going on. This uncontrolled illegal quarrying from the riverbeds has not only endangered the age-old fish species but put the fish species once found in the Pare river on the verge of extinction,” Tado wrote. The activities also create noise and dust pollution in the village settlement areas, making the environment unhealthy. https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2023/01/13/rivers-in-p-pare-facing-threat-from-illegal-mining-activities/ (13 Jan. 2022)
Manipur Disappearance of ‘Ngawa’ from Khuga River The fish species ‘Ngawa’ (Baril) is one of the delicacies for the people of Manipur; known for its sweet taste is disappearing from the river, Khuga. Out of the six Barilius species distributed in the state, the three species Barilius basna, Barilius bendelisis and Barilius doger singhi inhibit in the Khuga River. Though still found rarely in the hilly stretch of Khuga River, the fish is almost extinct from the River’s valley stretch.
Senior Consultant (Scientific) Dr Manichandra Sanoujam expressed that reduction in the rate of flow of the river, rise in temperature and scanty rainfall are possible reasons for disappearing of Ngawa species. The Baril is a surface feeder which consumes its food by filtering water through its gills. The species would not survive when the water becomes muddy or less oxygenated.
The extensive extraction of minor minerals such as stone pebbles and sand which serve as a natural aerator thereby oxygenating the river, could also be one of the reasons for the disappearance of the fish species, according to the senior consultant. He also said that other species like Ngara (Tor putitora), Thangonpanbi (Schistura vinciguerrae), Ngaton (Bangana dero), Sareng Khoibi (Botia berdmorei), Nganap (Glyptothorax species), Ngasep (Mystus cavasius), Ngaril Laina (Anguilla bengalensis Gray), etc., need survey before they meet the same fate as that of Ngawa. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=21..280823.aug23 (27 Aug. 2023)
Telangana The sand mafia in Jukkal Jukkal, a region rich in natural resources, which has the Majeera river flowing through this constituency, including sand deposits, has become a hotspot for unauthorised sand excavation. The sand mafia operates clandestinely, exploiting these resources without obtaining the necessary permits or adhering to environmental regulations.
The activities of the sand mafia have a significant impact on the lives and livelihoods of the local communities in Jukkal. Farmers, who rely on the rivers and streams for irrigation, suffer from reduced water availability and poor crop yields due to disrupted water flow. The ecological imbalance caused by sand mining also affects fishing communities, leading to a decline in fish populations and income loss. Moreover, the displacement of communities due to riverbank erosion compounds the social and economic challenges faced by the affected residents. https://www.siasat.com/opinion-the-sand-mafia-in-jukkal-telangana-2623719/ (24 Jun 2023)
Fishermen in Konaseema Protest On Boats Over Illegal Sand Mining in Godavari river. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvfvMMuIj0w (30 Sept. 2022)
MoEF Draft guidelines on extracting sand from sandbars released The MoEF&CC has sought comments from the Tamil Nadu state government on the draft guidelines on the extraction of sand from sandbars in intertidal areas by coastal communities. Under the draft guidelines sent to the state coastal zone management authority, the Centre has asked the state to utilise the expertise of premier scientific institutes or university departments in preparing a plan for sandbar extraction and monitoring.
Various organisations opposed amendments to the CRZ notification, 2019, related to oil and gas exploration, sand extraction from sandbars and retaining shacks on beaches during the monsoon, stating that the proposed changes will spell disaster for the environment and local communities. Sandbars are formed naturally along intertidal areas. Fishermen have opposed sand extraction from sand bars as it functions as eco-barriers that prevent fishing hamlets from extreme events, besides maintaining the ecological balance. They added that clearing sandbars would lead to rapid coastal erosion and threaten the nesting of seashore birds and endangered turtles. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/jun/01/draft-guidelines-on-extracting-sand-from-sandbars-released-2580714.html (01 June 2023)
Struggles of Coastal Fishers
Tamil Nadu NGT notice to govt over ‘incomplete’ draft CZMP maps The southern bench of NGT has issued notice to the state government over the alleged incomplete draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) maps for which public hearing has been called in all the coastal districts starting August 18.
Two fishermen leaders – Jesu Rethinam from Nagapattinam & K Saravanan from Chennai – have petitioned the NGT challenging the CZMP maps and sought interim injunction on scheduled public hearing saying the maps don’t have even fundamental components like fishing zones in the waterbodies and fishing village boundaries, breeding and spawning grounds of fish, common properties of the fishermen communities, detailed plans for long-term housing needs of fisher communities. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/aug/06/ngt-notice-to-govt-over-incomplete-draft-coastal-zone-management-plan-maps-2602443.html (6 Aug 2023)
Artisanal fishers resist polluting shrimp farms Artisanal fishers of Ariyankundu in Rameswaram, allege that the shrimp farms behind their village have polluted their groundwater, encroached their commons and that some farms don’t abide by the government rules. While the fishers complain that their livelihood is affected due to pollution from the shrimp farms, the shrimp farmers say that the business, although lucrative to pursue, is financially challenging.
Researchers are developing sustainable feed for the shrimp, that doesn’t pollute the water. They also recommend using remote-sensing tools to monitor land-use change and advocate for stronger regulations for effluent treatment systems, to make shrimp farming environment-friendly. Meanwhile, shrimp farms are rapidly expanding in India and the export of shrimp continues to increase each year. Both the central and state govt policies favour the growth of aquaculture. https://india.mongabay.com/2023/03/artisanal-fishers-of-rameswaram-resist-polluting-shrimp-farms-on-the-island/ (30 March 2023)
Fishermen lose 14-year battle to polluting power plant Fishermen Cuddalore district have lost a 14-year legal battle after the Supreme Court (SC) allowed the polluting 3,600 Mw coal-based power project of IL&FS Tamil Nadu Power Company Limited (ITPCL) to continue operating. On Feb 17, a Bench comprising Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar ruled that since ITPCL’s two units of 600 MW each, operating since Sep 2015 and April 2016, “supply power to approximately 40 lakh households” and are “situated in an energy deficit state, closing the power plants/units would adversely affect the state’s power sector and “shall not be in the larger public interest”.
However, the livelihood of fishing and farming communities in more than half-a-dozen villages in the proximity of the power plants has been in doldrums ever since commercial operations began eight years ago. It has been alleged that agricultural output and fish yield from the Bay of Bengal seacoast has declined substantially owing to the pollution caused by the power plants. https://www.newsclick.in/tamil-nadu-fishermen-lose-14-year-battle-polluting-power-plant; https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/appeal-maintainable-before-ngt-against-corrigendum-imposing-additional-conditions-to-environmental-clearance-supreme-court-223896; The principles of natural justice had not been followed by the NGT before framing the issues and hence the writ petition was being entertained, the judges said. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/hc-enjoys-discretion-to-either-entertain-or-not-entertain-writ-petitions-against-ngt-orders-rules-division-bench/article66622346.ece (15 March 2023)
W Bengal Barges carrying fly ash trigger erosion in Sunderbans A senior official of the state irrigation dept claimed that barges do play a role in erosion, albeit indirectly. “A major part of the route of these barges, from points close to Kolkata where they collect fly ash via Namkhana and Gosaba, now travel close to the inhabited island as the deep channels are located there. We do not know how much the waves created by the barges directly affect the banks; but they definitely play an important role indirectly in the process as they hamper siltation by disturbing the water course frequently.”
“Most of the barges carrying fly ash to Bangladesh travel close to the banks and damage the nets set up by fishermen. In 2022 and 2023, we filed complaints with the district magistrate and the Kolkata Port Trust; but the problem continues,” said Milan Das, secretary of a fishery association, Dakshin Banga Motsojibi Forum (DMF), on July 18. Earlier, in response to a petition filed by DMF, the NGT had called for an alternative route through the Bay of Bengal for the Bangladeshi barges. https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/news/barges-carrying-fly-ash-to-bangladesh-trigger-erosion-in-sunderbans-minister-javed-khan/cid/1953152 (19 July 2023)
Govts must review safety on transboundary rivers Avli Verma a researcher with Manthan Adhyayan Kendra: A 2.5-year legal battle in NGT over how fly ash is transported between India and Bangladesh has revealed significant problems in how transboundary shipping is regulated. In 2020, the West Bengal fishers organisation – the Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum (DMF) – appealed to the NGT after a series of boat collisions and sinkings on the rivers and estuaries that they depend upon for their income and survival. The DMF argued for better regulation of barges carrying fly ash, a residue from coal burning that contains toxic heavy metals and other pollutants. When fly ash is spilled into rivers, these can contaminate water and harm aquatic life.
The Tribunal’s final judgment on 20 March contained two positive elements. First, it acknowledged the harm caused by fly ash barges capsizing, and said that victims must be compensated on the principle of absolute liability. Second, the Tribunal noted the potential for damage to fisheries and the “need to take mitigation measures against such incidents in future… This requires revisiting the applicable regulatory framework,” it said, issuing a broad hint that the existing regulatory regime is not adequate. Less positively, the Tribunal did not exert any significant pressure on regulators to make changes. https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/regional-cooperation/india-bangladesh-must-review-safety-transboundary-rivers/ (02 June 2023)
Maharashtra Fisherfolk of Hanuman Koliwada struggle without land or livelihood On Feb 7, 2023, 30 fishermen from Uran Koliwada were arrested for opposing work on the Uran bypass bridge. The grounds for the FIR against them was that they were causing “danger to the nation,” as the project is of “national importance.” While they were given bail, the arrests are emblematic of fisherfolk’s fight to oppose the rampant, widespread destruction of their fishing areas.
Fishermen from Uran Koliwada have been protesting against various projects carried out by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO), Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone (NMSEZ) and other companies for several years. In a number of orders passed by the Bombay High Court and the National Green Tribunal, it has been held that the fisherfolk have a customary right to fish for a living in the creeks, in this case, the Uran Creek. These projects have detrimentally impacted such customary rights.
Due to the constant digging, dredging and piling by various JNPT projects, the coastal erosion, and ecology of the creek has been altered permanently. Fishing grounds are silted, fish spawning areas are becoming dead zones, carbon fertilisation due to untreated effluent has caused unwanted growth of algal blooms inviting birds, and fertile paddy fields are ingressed with salt making it impossible to cultivate crops. https://mumbai.citizenmatters.in/livelihood-a-missing-puzzle-in-the-incomplete-picture-of-fair-resettlement-at-uran-koliwada-47383 (15 Mar 2023)
Threats of Invasive Fish
Kerala Invasive species wipes out indigenous clams, oysters The Caribbean false mussel has wiped out almost all native clams and oysters of Kerala which are important for local fisheries, an intergovernmental panel report on biodiversity has said. The Caribbean false mussel (Mytilopsis sallei) originally from the Atlantic and Pacific coast of South & Central America has spread widely in Kerala. It has overwhelmed the American brackish water mussel, Mytella strigata, another invasive species which once threatened to take over the state’s waterways.
Researchers say the Caribbean false mussel may have travelled to India via ships, later spreading to estuaries through smaller fishing vessels that travel frequently between coastal oceanic waters and the fishing harbours of Kerala, the report on invasive species has said. It has also said in its case study on India that it is possible that tropical Cylone Ockhi, which struck the Kerala coast in 2017, may have triggered the spread of the “Varathan Kakka” (alien mollusc in Malayalam) across the state by carrying it into new waters. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/new-delhi-caribbean-false-mussel-wipes-out-native-clams-and-oysters-in-kerala-says-biodiversity-report-101693852477778.html; https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/invasive-mussel-species-from-central-and-south-america-wiping-out-native-variant-in-kerala/article67273654.ece; https://www.hindustantimes.com/environment/invasive-species-are-threatening-indias-coastal-biodiversity-101694273919115.html; https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/kerala-faces-challenges-from-invasive-alien-species/article67318413.ece (17 Sept. 2023)
Tamil Nadu Alien mussel species invade Ennore wetlands Eleven of 52 fishing sites in Ennore have been infested by an alien mussel species, wiping out valuable fisher resources like locally prevalent yellow clams (manja matti) and green mussels (pachai aazhi). Identified as ‘Mytella strigata’ or Charru mussels native to South America the mussels threaten to spread their tentacles into the ecologically sensitive Pulicat lake, which attracts migratory birds annually.
Fishers and activists suspect unchecked discharge of ballast waters from ships visiting the Kattupalli ports may have resulted in the spread. Responding to this allegation, Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority Deepak Srivastava said the wetland catchment and drainage system need to be studied to fix accountability. “An integrated management plan will be prepared to address the livelihood loss.”
A few years ago, Kerala too reported damage due to the spread of this species. Surveys found the presence of the Charru mussel in the state’s backwaters, including Kadinamkulam, Paravur, and Ponnani. Gradually, Ashtamudi Lake a Ramsar site in Kollam was deemed the worst hit. Here, the mussel replaced the Asian green mussel and the oyster ‘Magallana bilineata’. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/dec/28/alien-mussel-species-invade-ennore-wetlands-fishers-livelihood-on-line-in-tamil-nadu-2532387.html (28 Dec. 2022)
Jammu & Kashmir Predator alligator fish found in Dal Lake Discovery of alligator gar, a non-native predator fish mostly found in North America, in Srinagar’s Dal Lake on May 11 not only surprised experts in Kashmir, but also triggered a flurry of humorous reactions owing to the alligator-like head and pointed teeth of the fearsome fish. People blamed some ‘crazy’ tourist or an aquarium owner for throwing it in the lake.
Joint director, fisheries department, Abdul Majid Tak said they were compiling a report over the discovery. Usually, they don’t attack humans, but they can grow up to eight feet and can be dangerous to indigenous fish species. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/alligator-gar-non-native-predator-fish-found-in-srinagar-s-dal-lake-ahead-of-g20-summit-sparks-humorous-reactions-101683934602775.html (13 May 2023) The presence of the carnivorous fish in the lake has surprised not just residents but also the scientists and authorities, who are now trying to ascertain its effects on the ecology of Dal Lake, the second-largest and the most famous lake of J&K. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/carnivorous-alligator-gar-the-latest-threat-for-srinagar-s-idyllic-dal-lake–90088 (16 June 2023) Over the past few years, there have been several instances of sighting and capturing of alligator gar in India. It has been spotted in West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra and Kerala with experts suggesting that they have been found in water bodies of India through ornamental fish trade. https://india.mongabay.com/2023/06/alligator-gar-fish-found-in-dal-lake-raises-concerns/ (05 June 2023)
Andhra Pradesh Gambusia: This solution could actually be an invasive problem Multiple countries, including India have listed Gambusia as invasive species. However, the fish continues to be a prominent part of the country’s malaria control programmes and the fish continue to be released into freshwater bodies across the country, like Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh. They are known to eat the eggs of competing fishes and frog tadpoles. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/gambusia-this-solution-could-actually-be-an-invasive-problem-90665 (17 July 2023)
Gambusia fish remain popular to beat mosquitoes -These species of mosquitofish originated in the U.S. but today have become global inhabitants. They are notorious for their detrimental ecological impact, including displacing and preying on native fauna, leading to the extinction of native fish, amphibians, and various freshwater communities. As such, Gambusia stands out as some of the most widely dispersed freshwater fish, aided by their robust adaptability and high tolerance for fluctuating environmental conditions.
-For these reasons, the World Health Organisation stopped recommending Gambusia as a mosquito control agent in 1982. In 2018, the National Biodiversity Authority of the Government of India also designated G. affinis and G. holbrooki as invasive alien species. But both government and non-governmental organisations in India have continued to introduce these species for mosquito-control.
-At this time, more stringent enforcement measures are crucial to prevent the species from continuing to be introduced to freshwater ecosystems and to manage the consequences of past introductions. Both also include the task of safeguarding our indigenous aquatic biodiversity and the well-being of native species. (M. Nobinraja, Ravikanth G, ATREE) https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/gambusia-mosquitofish-mosquito-control-invasive-species-india/article67550819.ece (21 Nov. 2023)
Uttar Pradesh Banda: Invasive fish found in Ken River Sucker mouth a catfish species native to South American Amazon River was found in Ken river of Banda district. On June 3, Shivnayak Nishad, a resident of village panchayat of Sadar tehsil of the district, had received this rare fish. They say that it got entangled in a net set for fishing at night. When it was seen in the morning, discussion spread in the area as its species was not known.
Last year, the same species was seen in Ganga river in Banaras and Bihar. Officials do not have the data regarding its estimated population. Catfish sucker mouth eats small fish of other species and their eggs in the river where it lives. This affects the reproduction rate of small aquatic animals in the river. Its presence in the Ken river of Banda, is a matter of concern. https://dashanan.in/national-news/kane-river-in-banda-found-suckermouth-fish-today-live-6857/ (05 June 2023)
Punjab Ludhiana: llegal breeding of banned Thai Magur fish raises concerns Experts have warned about the dire consequences of cultivating the banned fish in polluted ponds, as its predatory nature disrupts the delicate balance of pond ecosystems by preying on other aquatic insects and small fish. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/illegal-cultivation-of-banned-thai-magur-fish-in-punjab-raises-concerns-for-ecosystem-and-public-health-101690307899568.html (25 July 2023)
Unsustainable Fishing
Kerala Clam Collectors Of Vembanad Lake Ria Sojan This is the first story in a series of articles written by the students of Azim Premji University as part of a field practice and writing workshop for their sustainability minor.
Clam collectors are stuck in a cycle of consumption and depletion because they, as individuals, cannot see the bigger picture. The dilemma is that unless they can trust every other person to adhere to the rules of sustainable collection, it is not profitable for just them to follow the rules. In such a complex ecosystem, the interconnectedness between sectors and systems has vital consequences. Without an external party to enforce these rules, clams may soon be harvested to extinction, and the collectors will be left hunting for other ways to survive. https://www.natureinfocus.in/environment/the-clam-collectors-of-vembanad-lake (20 Mar 2023)
Meghalaya 80 pc state’s fish need met by imports: Hek Fisheries Minister AL Hek, on April 24 2023, admitted: “We are depending on 80 per cent of fish from outside and only 20 percent of fish is from the state”. “The Aquaculture mission is not a failure,” Hek said. The State Aquaculture Mission was launched in 2012 to not only augment fish production in the state, but to achieve the target of making Meghalaya a self-sufficient state within five years. But the ponds created under the State Aquaculture Mission did not produce fish as per the objective. He wanted to change the concept from fish sanctuary into tourism potential, he informed that the fisheries department has put proposals to develop at least 8 fish sanctuaries in some rivers by also making these tourist spots. https://themeghalayan.com/80-pc-states-fish-need-met-by-imports-hek/ (25 April 2023)
Himachal Pradesh Trout production sinks to bottom over decade Trout fish production has taken a nosedive over the decade. The Economic Survey for 2022-23 suggests that this figure dropped from 19.18 tonnes (T) in 2012-13 to 6.73 T in 2020-21 and is estimated to hit a low of 6.33 T in 2022-23 with a negative compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -10.49%.
This decline has come when the state’s overall fish production has risen consistently in the same decade, from 8,560.8 T in 2012-13 to 17.136.9 T in 2022-23 at an overall growth rate of 7%. The total value of fish produced also jumped from Rs 58.1 crore in 2012-13 to Rs 233.5 crore in 2021-22 with a growth rate of 15.7% and is expected to touch Rs 249.9 crore in 2022-23, at a growth rate of 7%. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/shimla/himachal-pradesh-trout-production-sinks-to-bottom-over-decade/articleshow/99883764.cms (30 April 2023)
Gujarat Inland fisheries output dips While the state govt has several schemes to incentivize inland fisheries, their output by value has fallen by 12.7% in the past decade, according to a report from the Union ministry of statistics and programme implementation, from Rs 475.76 crore in 2011-12 to 415.17 crore in 2020-21. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarats-inland-fisheries-output-dips/articleshow/100636203.cms (31 May 2023)
Odisha Govt turns to cage aquaculture Odisha imports around 40,000 T of fish annually, from neighbouring states, to meet its domestic demand. The state has one of the highest fish consumption populations in India. As part of a pilot project, 96 entrepreneurs from across Odisha have taken up cage fish farming under the state’s subsidised policy to augment freshwater fish production.
Cage farming can assure production of 20-40 kgs of fish/cubic metre. However, challenges of market linkage, feed and sustainability remain an issue. https://india.mongabay.com/2022/12/to-increase-fish-production-odisha-turns-to-cage-aquaculture/ (22 Dec. 2022)
Bengaluru Fish yield in city’s waterbodies crosses 9k T in 2 years Amid multiple fishkill incidents and BBMP opposing commercial fishing in Bengaluru lakes, over 160 waterbodies of Bengaluru Urban district yielded 6,061 T of fish in 2020-21. In 2021-22, the figure touched 9,360 tonnes. Fish production slightly dipped to 9,126 tonnes in 2022-23. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/fish-yield-in-citys-waterbodies-crosses-9k-tonnes-in-two-years/articleshow/101407803.cms (1 July 2023)
Chandigarh Admin starts removing old, large fish from Sukhna Lake The Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries has started removing old and large fish from Sukhna Lake to maintain its ecological balance in consultation with the Forest Department, Chandigarh, and the Zoology Department of Panjab University. New fish seed would be released in coming days, he said. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/chandigarh-starts-removing-old-large-fish-from-sukhna-lake-487747 (14 March 2023) The lake is home to 30-odd species of fish, including Indian major carps and a few exotic carps. Every year the Fishery Department stocked Indian major carps, and exotic carps in the lake. In addition, fish from the surrounding areas are washed into the lake during floods. Experts say the trouble started after 1985 when the administration stopped auctioning of selective fishing rights in the lake. This resulted in aging of fish, which started living at the expense of the small fish, creating food and space problems for the younger breed. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/nod-to-selective-harvest-of-large-fish-in-chandigarhs-sukhna-lake-487356; https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/65-quintal-big-old-fish-taken-out-of-sukhna-488133; https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/221quintals-of-big-fish-removed-from-sukhna-490737 (24 March 2023)
Compiled by Bhim Singh Rawat (bhim.sandrp@gmail.com)
SANDRP 