06-bioresourcesstatu.. - M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

from Chilika lake has fallen from 4,273 in 1990-91
to 1,652 metric tonne by 1997-98 (CDA,2001). The
prawn gheries have also become a great threat for
the native and the lakhs of migratory birds, who
come from distant countries to spend the winter
here. In spite of stringent law and regulation a
large chunk of Chilika area remains covered
under illegal prawn cultivation, causing at times
law and order problem to the state-administration
(Chilika Banchao Andolan, 1992). Interestingly,
the fishing community of Chilika lagoon has
strongly opposed to the State Government's
proposed Orissa Fishing Chilika Regulation Bill
2001. The Chilika Machyajibi Mahasangha
described the draft as the one that goes against
the interest of the local fishing community, since it
allows non-fishing co-operative societies to catch
fish in Chilika lagoon. (Times of India, New
Delhi, 23/12/2001, The New India Express,
Bhubanesar, 28/12/2001).
VII. Conservation and Management Efforts
i. Current legal status
The Orissa Government has decided to ban prawn
culture in the Chilika lagoon. The decision comes
in the wake of the recent agitation by the
traditional fishermen demanding demolition of all
types of 'gheries' made in the lake for prawn
culture. (The Hindu, New Delhi, 27/06/99, page
12). According to a recent report) The decision
was approved by a cabinet meeting on 12-12-
2001.The new legislation, Through promulgation of
Orissa Fishing Chilika Regulation Bill - 2001, the
State Government has decided to ban all forms of
culture fishing within 1000 m radius of the Chilika
lagoon. It has been further decided that 47,000 ha
of fishing bed would be leased out to theFISHFED,
an agency of the State Government. The FISHFED
in turn will sub-lease 33,000 hectares to the
fishermen co-operative societies and 14, 000
hectares to the non-fishermen co-operative
societies. The leased period will be for three years
and can be renewed later. The CDA will monitor
the fishing activities on day-to-day basis. A multidisciplinary
team with members from the CDA,
fishery and revenue departments will be set up to
implement the provisions of the above Bill. It is
envisaged that the Bill will ensure protection of
the livelihood of fishermen and fragile ecology of
the Chilika lagoon from the threats of illegal and
unauthorized gheries (The New Indian Express,
Bhubaneswar, 13/12/2001, page 01, Deccan
Herald, Sunday, 20-1-2002). Over 50 per cent of
Chilika Lake
Chilika area are at present covered under illegal
prawn cultivation. Non-traditional methods of
fishing, including pen construction, selective
stocking, external supplemental feeding with
artificial feed and application of drugs and
chemicals would be banned. Sub-leasing for
fishing in Chilika in ide!1tified ecosensitive belts
would be forbidden. The respective district
collectors would lease out the fishing areas to the
Orissa State Fishermen's Co-operative Federation
(OSFCF) to be sub-leased to primary co-operatives.
The CDAwould be entrusted with responsibility of
monitoring and evaluation of fishing activities in
and around Chilika (Down to Earth, New Delhi,
January 31, 2002,pages 20-21).
219
ii. Applicable Protection Acts
• Fisherman Act 1897
• Indian Forest Act 1927
• Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and Wildlife
(Protection)AmendmentAct 1991
• Marine Products DevelopmentAuthority 1972
• Water (Preventionand ControlofPollution)Act 1974
• Forest ConservationAct 1980
• Marine Zones of India (Regulation of Fishing by
Foreigu Vessels) 1980
• Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982
• Orissa Marine Fishing Regulatio~ Rules, 1983
• Environment (Protection) Act 1986
• The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification,
1991
• The Aquaculture Authority Bill, 1997
• Orissa Fishing Chilika Regulation Bill 2001
iii. Government
Being concerned with the degradation of the
Chilika lagoon ecosytem, the Government of Orissa
formed the Chilika Development Authority (CDA)
in the year 1991 as a nodal body with the principal
objectives:
a. To protect the lagoon ecosystem with its genetic
diversity,
b. To execute various developmental activities
either through itself or through some other
agencies,
c. To co-operate and collaborate with institutions
of the state, national and international
institutions for all round development of the
lagoon,
d. To establish management information systems
and database of the lagoon,