Coastal zone notification will ruin livelihood: fishermen
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13/06/2008
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Hindu (New Delhi)
The National Fishworkers Forum has urged the Centre to immediately withdraw the "ill-conceived draft Coastal Zone Management (CZM) notification. For, it will not only adversely impact the fragile ecological system and marine life but also take away the means of livelihood from the 10-million fishing community, representatives of the forum told a press conference here on Friday. "The future of millions of fisherfolk is at stake as the Centre, in league with the governments of coastal States, plans to bring up huge commercial projects along the 8,118-km long coastline.' The forum said the new draft superseded the 1991 Coastal Regulation Zone notification of 1991, but this was done without consulting the fishing community, main stakeholder. Drawing attention to a national rally of fishermen, which started on May 1, the forum said it would culminate on June 17 after covering various parts of the country to raise awareness of their issues.