The National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF), in association with fishworkers’ bodies of Karnataka and Kerala, will launch a 10-day boat rally from Mangalore to Thiruvananthapuram on November 21 as part of its campaign to protect the sea, coast, and inland water bodies and fisheries resources.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, Vasudeva Boloor, Vice-President of NFF, said that if the NDA Government follows the policies of UPA Government, then the entire marine sector will be pushed into a major crisis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take steps to protect the fish wealth and the livelihoods of the fisher people, he said.

Stating that the government is trying to dilute the norms on coastal regulation zone (CRZ), Boloor said the norms provided protection to the biodiversity of the sea and community rights of fisher people.

Quoting the recommendations of the Murari Committee, he said the committee opposed providing licence to foreign fishing vessels. It also said that the existing licences of foreign fishing vessels should not be renewed.

The committee recommended facilitating and promoting the traditional and small-scale fisheries sector in the country. Though accepted by the government, the recommendations are not being implemented, he said.

Giving details about the 10-day agitation campaign, Boloor said it will take place both on sea and coast. The social activist Medha Patkar will inaugurate the boat race at Old Mangalore Port on November 21. It will reach Thiruvananthapuram on November 30.

Public meetings will be held at fish landing centres and fisheries harbours on the route from Mangalore to Thiruvananthapuram, he said.

In continuation with the boat rally, NFF will hold a national conference in Visakhapatnam on December 18 to plan a nationwide agitation, Boloor said.

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