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After anger, sorrow and despair, came action that saw small-time fisher folk stave off the powerful shrimp industry in Andhra Pradesh.
About twenty years ago, middlemen and moneylenders carted away fish catches from the Andhra coast at ridiculously low prices, at times even by force. In spite of this exploitation, the people were satisfied as they still had enough fish for sale and consumption. But gradually mechanised boats and trawlers began fishing within their traditional limits, leading to depletion of prawn, fish and vegetation, posing a big threat to their livelihoods and an even greater threat to the environment. Deprived of their livelihoods, the desperate fisher folk sold their land to the shrimp industry. Having stripped them of their livelihoods and land, the industry then employed them to collect shri! mp fry (the young or newly-hatched fish). The 1980 guidelines of the Andhra Pradesh government, which permitted only non-mechanised fishing craft to operate up to 10 kms from the shore, were never enforced. Prepare, a Chennai-based NGO, which has been active in the region for the last two decades, intervened to make the people aware of the long-term ecological and economic consequences of collecting shrimp fry. They attempted to strengthen local control by organising the community into decision-making councils called Kappu Sanghams. Education and awareness programmes helped the community understand how agricultural land was rendered useless due to salinisation. This resulted in a complete ban on fry collection in the area. But the ban was lifted when leaders of the Kappu Sanghams were bribed with alcohol and money. In 1994, known environmentalists and lawyers visited the area. Chittibabu, a l! ocal who wrote against the shrimp industry, was arrested. This pushed the community from apathy to activism, and they declared open war on the industry. Prepare filed a petition seeking legal action. NGOs and activists from all maritime Indian states came together, forming the People's Alliance Against Shrimp Industry (PAASI), to co-ordinate a national movement against the shrimp industry and collect evidence to present to the Supreme Court. On May 9, 1995, the Supreme Court directed that no part of agricultural land be to be converted into commercial aquaculture farms in the coastal states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry. The district collectors were directed to allow the traditional fishermen free access to their villages and the sea. However, the industry carried on, having convinced officials, politicians and corporates of its contribution to the rural economy. The Kappu! Sanghams increased the intensity of their activism through public meetings, road blockades and picketing, accompanied by vigorous campaigning. On August 24, 1995, the Supreme Court passed an order that no construction was to be permitted within 500 metres from the sea -- the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). Discharge of effluents from industries, land reclamation and groundwater extraction were banned in the CRZ. This was a major victory for the fishing community. Contact: PREPARE
4, Sathalvar Street, Mogappair West
Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600050
India
Tel: 91-44-654 211
Fax: 91! -44-655 015
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