Kerala fishers to protest at sea on February 8 against offshore mining, oil exploration off State’s coast

While protests against sea sand mining are gaining momentum in the State, around 300 traditional fishing crafts and 30 trawlers will converge off the Kollam coast on February 8 to mark fishing community’s protest against the decision. ‘Kadal Samrakshana Sringhala’, a campaign of Matysathozhilali Federation (CITU), will hold a protest meeting at sea demanding the rollback of the project as concerns about livelihood and potential impacts on marine ecosystem intensify.

“Besides, operations for oil exploration off Kollam coast are slated to begin shortly and we were worried about its consequences. Over 40% of the total fish landings in the State are from Kollam and the fishers are already struggling due to the dip in catch. Currently, we know nothing about the site they have identified for exploratory drilling apart from the fact that it’s 26 nautical miles away from the coast. It’s a matter of concern that a lot of boats from fishing villages in Kollam often cross this 26 nautical miles mark. Our apprehensions about the project remain unaddressed till the moment,” said H. Basil Lal, State secretary of the federation.

According to fishers, both the projects were announced without conducting required studies and they believe that the fragile marine habitats will be destroyed in the process. “The decline in marine resources during the last three years is alarming. Government is not releasing details about total fish landings, especially about species like sardine. There is already a crisis in the sector and sea mining will aggravate the situation,” said Mr. Basil.

Apart from risking the biodiversity of the region, both the projects are expected to impact the livelihood of fishers as some stretches of the sea will be off limits to them. “The ‘Quilon Bank’, stretching between Varkala and Ambalapuzha, is a rich fishing field. It’s the harvesting area of thousands of traditional boats and trawlers from various parts. The Centre’s decision to start mining in the area came as a shocker,” said Mr. Basil.

After the first protest of the anti-mining campaign on February 8, another major programme will be held on February 17, followed by coastal hartal on February 27.