Workshop on inland fisheries bill

With the objective of combining the existing bills related to Inland fisheries, Government of Kerala has recently notified a draft, 'Kerala Inland Fishery Bill (2010)'. Fisheries experts and traditional fishermen of the inland fisheries sector are apprehensive about the Bill.

In this backdrop, CERC-ATREE organised a consultation workshop to create a common platform for the exchange of views between the experts and stakeholders at Alappuzha on 8 June 2010.

Several consultations organised by the subject committee in different parts of the state were not represented by the true stakeholders and experts. The lake protection forum members in Vembanad raised this issue and ATREE took up the same, organising this consultation workshop that brought together experts and stakeholders, mobilising a cream of experts and other NGOs.

After a detailed analysis of the draft bill , the workshop pointed out several gaps in the bill and finally decided to recommend to redraft the bill adding ATREE's suggestions. Dr.Madhusooda Kurup, a resource person and adviser to the fisheries minister, agreed to mediate on this.

The opinions were consolidated and submitted to Mr. S. Sharma (Hon. Minister for Fisheries, Kerala) Click here for the report in Malayalam.

Press reports 9 June, 2010:
The Hindu: Call for amendments to Inland Fisheries Bill
Indian Express: Protect traditional rights of fishermen, urges seminar
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