The National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) has expressed strong opposition to the construction of new ports along India’s coastline and called for stricter enforcement of bans on illegal fishing equipment during its three-day general body meeting in Alibag, Maharashtra. The meeting, hosted by Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti (MMKS), saw participation from nine coastal states.
The forum’s member unions from nine coastal states also demanded strict implementation of existing bans on LED fishing, bull trawling, and pair trawling methods, which are considered harmful to marine ecosystems and traditional fishing practices.
Earlier, during the meeting, Goa-based Olencio Simoes, was re-elected as NFF’s general secretary for a second term, while Ramkrishna Tandel was appointed as the new chairperson.
Simoes highlighted that the Union government’s shift in focus from capture to culture fisheries over the last five budgets poses a risk to the livelihoods of 20 million fishers. He emphasized that marine fishers have been crucial in ensuring the nation’s food security, sustainably harvesting approximately 4 million tonnes of fish annually at affordable prices.
The forum identified port development as a critical concern, with new projects planned across Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala threatening to displace small-scale fishing communities. Of particular concern is the proposed Rs 76,200 crore all-weather deep-water port at Vadhavan in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, which could potentially affect the livelihoods of one million fishers. In response, NFF and MMKS organized a mass rally at Navegoan Ground in Alibag to protest the project.