The Plight of Indian Fishermen Amidst Climate Change and Government Policies – Global Issues
NEW DELHI, Aug 28 (IPS) – Warming seas due to climate change mean that Indian fishermen often take to the waters illegally in search of good fish and find themselves arrested and their boats confiscated, impoverishing their families. Climate change is forcing millions of Indian fishermen to move beyond the country’s economic zone into dangerous seas.
In their search for better fish, about four million of India’s 28 million fishermen often face increased risks of being caught by neighboring countries.
“In the past, the fish used to be close to the shore, but now we have to go far to find them. Our fishing season lasts about a month, and it takes a few days to reach our fishing ground. This time is increasing each season, and recently, the number of days we spend at sea it has doubled,” Jivan R. Jungi, a fishing leader from Gujarat, India, told IPS.
It has not only made the lives of fishermen a challenge, but also affected their families, which include about 16 million people, according to official data.
India, a South Asian country with a coastline of 7,500 km, relies on aquatic products such as fish and shrimp for its national income.
According to a recent Indian Express report, India exported about 17,81,602 metric tonnes (MT) of seafood, generating a net profit of ₹60,523.89 crore (USD 7.38 billion) in FY 2023–24.
“The government does not care about us at all, despite the high profit margins in the fishing industry. They fail to provide even the basic benefits that the government can do, such as fire safety,” Jungi told IPS. “Our boats are built of wood and run on diesel, which increases the risk of fire. We have been asking for safety measures or compensation for years, but nothing is being done, as we face the growing challenges of climate change.”
Their plight is exacerbated by Indian government policies, including a recent provision in the National Fisheries Policy 2020, which encourages “deep-sea fishing and fishing in areas outside national jurisdiction for unexploited resources.” This policy aims to bring in more money for the nation but it does so at the expense of the fishermen.
The temperature rises Compare the Hiroshima Bomb
The Down to Earth report, citing research by Science Direct, suggests that the Indian Ocean could increase by 1.7–3.8 degrees Celsius between 2020 and 2100.
To illustrate the intensity, Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, is quoted as saying: “The expected increase in temperature is like increasing the power of the Hiroshima atomic bomb every second, continuously, for a decade.”
Fishermen along the Indian coast face increasing challenges, leading to conflicts with neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Saudi Arabia.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, between 2020 and 2022, more than 2,600 Indian fishermen were arrested in ten countries across the Indian Ocean for transgressing maritime boundaries. The highest number of arrests took place in Pakistan (1,060), followed by Saudi Arabia (564) and Sri Lanka (501).
At sea, in danger
The issue of maritime boundaries and fishing rights runs deep, often causing conflicts between fishermen from different countries. When fishermen cross into foreign waters and catch fish, local fishermen claim ownership of the catch, leading to disputes.
This conflict between fishermen can have serious consequences. In addition, after being arrested, instead of being treated like ordinary prisoners, they sometimes face harsh conditions, including the risk of death in foreign prisons.
As reported by the Ministry of External Affairs, nine Indian fishermen died in Pakistani jails in the last five years. In 2022, an Indian fisherman named Maria Jesind was reportedly killed in an Indonesian prison.
This situation is very familiar to fishermen, especially those from India and Pakistan, who have long been involved in political conflicts between their governments.
Historically, the lack of a clear demarcation line has forced fishermen to venture deeper into the ocean without adequate protection. As a result, both countries have been detaining fishermen from each other’s territories for years now.
Last year, 499 fishermen were released by Pakistan on July 3, 2023, after several attempts for their release by civil society organizations. The fishermen, charged with violating the Passport Act by trespassing in border waters, were arrested after trial, often receiving sentences of several months. The official sentence is usually six months, but the release of these fishermen is rare, with many serving more than five years.
“But several have died. Balo Jetah Lal died in a Pakistani jail in May 2023; Bichan Kumar alias Vipan Kumar (died on April 4, 2023); Soma Deva (died on May 8, 2023); and Zulfiqar from Kerala (died on May 6 , 2023), 2023) in Karachi jail,” Jungi said, adding, “Vinod Laxman Kol died on March 17 in Karachi and his remains were brought to his hometown in Maharashtra on May 1, 2024.”
Although the arrests and deaths affect the families of the fishermen, it also has a wider impact on the community, challenging their way of life and livelihood.
Fishermen are now demanding that they not be arrested or shot, but turned away if they cross the sea borders.
After their release, the fishermen struggle to make ends meet because the government that arrested them rarely returns their boats, resulting in a lifetime debt of Rs. 50–60 lakhs (USD 5–6 million) per boat. As a result, the workers are now demanding that their boats be returned and that the government ensure that the families of imprisoned fishermen receive support through processes and programs, including educational opportunities for their children, to prevent them from falling into extreme poverty.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
