It is a fact that only Orissa has strictly implemented the Supreme Court Judgment on CRZ (Coastal Regulations Zone). No other State has done it. We the people of Orissa are in fact very law abiding in nature.
As the Chief Wildlife Warden observed, the laws relating to Sanctuary areas are very strict. You might know that very senior officers of the State Government, even of Chef Secretary's rank have been subject to penalties for violation of such Forest Conservation laws. As I know, in Koraput district, there are some areas where a blade of grass does not grow, but these areas are recorded as reserved forests. If somebody unknowingly raises a construction of school building or any other structure in these areas, a case is bound to be registered against him. I know a senior officer of the State Government, against whom such a case was lodged by the Forest Department and is still going on. So there are certain legislations like Forest Conservation Act and Wildlife Protection Act, which no body violates in any State. I have seen in any own eyes, in States like Kerala, how the Forest Guards well-equipped with ammunitions, ever remain vigilant and tough against the violators. Here also, the laws are very tough for marine Sanctuary areas on the grounds of turtle conservation.
A question has been legitimately raised in course of discussions today, i.e. if TED is used as a mandatory provision, why should there be any restriction on fishing in different areas of our coastal waters, other than sanctuary areas? I have already told you that we would definitely take up this case with appropriate Department of the Government taking the orders of the Minister. If the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Fisheries Department, the amendment can be made by the Fisheries Department and we need not approach other Departments for the purpose. If the fishing restrictions have been introduced under OMFRA rules, these can be amended easily. We cannot do anything about wildlife sanctuary regulations. But our efforts shall definitely be to see that the restrictions on fishing are removed, provided that TED is mandatorily implemented.
I am thankful to Orissa Marine Fish Producers Association and other trawl-owner associations, the scientists of CIFT, FSI and CIFNET, Chief Wildlife Warden, wildlife scientists, DFOs including Mr. Chadha who had come, Coast Guard, Project Swarajya and other NGOs and our Departmental officers who have been present all through in the discussions of this Workshop. This Workshop is a beginning only. Our main idea was limited to creating awareness only. But I found that you the trawl owners are more aware than we people. From the awareness point of view, we have been very, very successful, as all of you have seen. I am also happy to see the way the trawl owners responded to our efforts.
As Dr.Raghu Prakash R. of CIFT said, we have to see the writing on the wall. It should not happen that some foreign countries someday send an inspection team to see what is happening at ground level and if and how we are cheating them. Even if we are able to export our products through Thailand or Japan today, we should not suffer in future. We are exporting about 400crore rupees worth of marine fish and products. We should not allow things to happen in a manner, by which we one fine morning are caught unawares suddenly. Let us not precipitate a situation by which you the trawl owners would be put into deep problems. We therefore should prepare ourselves accordingly.
From our departmental side we do not like to recommend a measure, which hurts your (trawl owners) economic interests. So I would request you to examine the present design of TED and find out if it is suitable for shrimp trawling only. Let us concentrate on this alone in course of the field demonstration to take place tomorrow and day after. I would request Dr. R. Raghu Prakash to be available to the trawl owners for interaction during the demonstration. I would also expect the office-bearers of OMFPA to provide to Dr. Prakash the statistics on the catch variety and all that so as to help Dr.Prakash redesign the TED, if necessary and as required by the trawl owners. Once the redesign is completed, we shall test it by our departmental trawlers first, and as and when we are convinced about the efficiency of the new design, then only we shall arrange its demonstration for every body to see it.
But I would request you time and again to see the writing on the wall. You the trawl owners should not suffer. Our department should not be blamed for keeping you in dark.
While thanking again all of you, I shall request the trawl owners to take advantage of the presence of the scientists who have come all the way from Cochin and Vizag, to share the theoretical knowledge by way of interaction with them on how to increase the fish catch.
As regards the gill-netting fishermen, if necessary we shall arrange a separate meeting for them with Chief Wildlife Warden, DFO Rajnagar and others concerned, preferably after the Panchayat elections are over. Their problems can be sorted out through face-to-face discussions. The office bearers of the gill-netter associations should come prepared with their brief. If necessary I shall invite APC Orissa, to be there in such a meeting with gill-netters. Myself and the Director, Fisheries shall of course be present in such a meeting.
I now request Mr.Patnaik, Mr.Rath, Mr.Praharaj, Mr.Badal and Mr.Abhimanyu of the Trawler Associations to kindly spare their time and use their expertise tomorrow and day after, to examine in depth the present design of TED is course of the field demonstration. If you are convinced about the present design of TED as suitable for shrimp trawling, you can take some TEDs from our Department for use in your trawl nets. Mind it, the present design is meant for only shrimp trawling, and I won't ask you to use it for fish trawling. From my side, I shall also not recommend the present design of TED for fish trawling. Only when there is a new design for the fish trawling and our departmental officers are satisfied with its performance, we may recommend its use by you for fish trawling.
Let us be positive in our approach. I am very happy to see that our trawl owners are self-made people, standing on their own legs, and who have grown wiser by way of their experience of fighting in Orissa State. I hope that they interact with the scientists to learn whatever from them, and also help Dr. Prakash during TED demonstration.
I still see that some of you have questions. But it is already 6 pm and I declare the to-day's meeting over.