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Coastal fishermen live in misery

They feel insecure following the onslaughts of pirates in the sea and criminals on the land

Abdullah -Al Mahmud
Thousands of fishermen in coastal areas live in miseries and insecurity as the National Fisheries Policy 1998 has not yet been properly implemented and related laws framed.
Around 70,000 people of some 40 fishermen's villages along the coast stretching from Patenga to Mirer Sarai, live on fishing in the sea using smaller mechanised boats or local boats, sources said.
They contribute immensely to the national economy as their catches are around 95 per cent of the total marine fishes in the country. -
The concerned circles suggest conserving areas of fishing by small fishermen, deployment of security forces at every ghat at least during the hilsha monsoon and formation of a special force in tills respect.
The fishermen go for fishing in the vast sea risking their lives without radio to alert against inclement weather, compass or lighthouse to guide them and life saving medicines or drinkingwater.
Besides, the poor catch of fishes and lack of preservation and marketing facilities deprive them of fair prices. They also feel insecure following the onslaughts of pirates in the sea and criminals onthcland.
They often fell prey to piracy. Pirates on board high-speed fishing boats in the guise of fishermen rob them of all their catches, money, netsandengines.
, ,Thpybuythencls.andcngiries with the money, mostly borrowed from local money-lenders on higher rate of interest
Some 12,000 pieces of nets and over 100 engines worth about Iki crore were looted from the coastal fishermen in five years till 2003, Community Development Centre
(CODEC) survey says.
Besides, pirates lootcd!6 Bihundi nets worth around Iki 35 lakh from three fishermen of Kumira, Golabaria and Muradpur in July last year, CODEC sources said.
Non-implcmcntation of fishing policy, absence of specific law and lack of proper enforcement of laws are responsible for thesuffer-ings of the fishermen, officials, NGOs and fishermen said.
As per the National Fisheries Poljcy '98, fishing by larger trawlers was to be declared restricted upto 40 meter depth of the sea from the coast to demarcate fishing areas for the smaller and larger fishermen., _ ...
The fisheries policy also underlined the need for insurance for the life and property, of the fishermen andstrictmcasurcstocheckplracy.
Besides, the Fisheries Department in a strategy paper in 2003 proposed conserving 10km from the coast for the small fisher-
men keeping option for them to go into the sea further at the same time. It also recommended appointment of a coast guard liaison officer.
Sources in Marine Fisheries Office (MFO) here said that the rules set in the policy '98 came into effect immediately after its formulation. They said that mobile courts have been set up with the help of Coast Guard to ensure cxecutionofthe rules.
Review of the fishing policy reveals the government's goodwill for safeguarding theinterestofthe small fishermen, but absence of specific law and atmosphere sqems. to, stand in the way of implementation of the pbllcy, bald CODEC offi cial Ayesha Akter.
As per the Criminal Penal Code (Q-PC) Section 392 one might be awarded 10-year imprisonment and financial penalty and Section 396 death penalty or life term imprisonment forpiracy and killing
But, nothing specific was mentioned about the executing authority or laW-cnforcing agency, CODEC officials said.
Fishermen said that police often refused to register case in connection with the piracy.
Meanwhile, CODEC organised a meeting to exchange views on piracy at Kari tas audl torium in the city on December27.
Representatives from different related NGOs, professional groups, local chairmen and fishermen community at the meeting called formation of special force for maintaining security in th e coas tai arc as and fishermen. ■
They also urged the government to ensure accountability in issuing licenses Tor high-speed engine boats or trawlers, check markets for stolen fishing nets and strengthen coordination among the fishermen, local people's representatives and diffcrcntlawcnforcingagencies.