On the occasion of World Fishery Day, the All Loktak Fishers Union Manipur (ALAFUM) has underscored the plight of the fishing population of Loktak and others who are engaged in capture fishery. As a Union of fishing families of the Loktak lake, ALAFUM has expressed concern that fisherfolk of Loktak are not treated as legal fisherpersons.
The ALAFUM press note issued by secretary Rajen Oinam, underscored that the Fishery Department as well as the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) do not have proper data of the fishing population of Loktak till date. It accused the LDA of treating the fisherfolk as “occupiers”, and not as fishing families who have lived and fished at Loktak for generations.
Recalling the burning of several floating homes of Loktak fishers by the LDA in November of 2011, ALAFUM said that it condemns the act to this day and continues to mark the day every year as “Loktak Arson Day”.
Additionally, the press release said that the Fishery Department exists only for culture fishery (rearing and harvesting fish in small bodies of water) as those engaged in capture fishing at Loktak have not been provided with identity cards as fishers till date.
Subsequently, they have been deprived of schemes, loans and other State facilities as fishers. This is because people who fish at Loktak are not considered as fishers, reasoned ALAFUM.
Urging the law makers to understand the role played by the fishing population of Loktak in particular and capture fishery at large, ALAFUM has appealed to the Government to recognize and support capture fishery and treat the fishing families equally as those engaged with culture fishery. On another note, ALAFUM highlighted the contribution of the fishing families residing in at least 51 villages in and around Loktak.
It pointed out that these fishing families are the ones who produce fishes of all sizes filling the markets of the valley. They are also the main producer of smoked fish in the State. Unlike those engaged in culture fishery, the fish and other aquatic vegetables are produced everyday.