The ongoing territorial conflict between fishermen of south Gujarat and Saurashtra reached a flashpoint last weekend when hundreds of fishermen from Valsad on Sunday stayed away from fishing, demanding that the state government intervene in the issue for a permanent solution.
These fishermen alleged that their counterparts from Jafrabad and other places in Saurashtra region were fishing in their “territory” with the help of advance equipment and causing losses to ill-equipped south Gujarat fishermen.
Fishermen from Jafrabad, on the other hand, called the allegations baseless and accused the South Gujarat fishermen of attacking them and looting their fish and expensive equipment. On Sunday, over 700 fishing boats were seen anchored on the shore with the fishermen of 10 villages in Umargam taluka of Valsad district assembled at Nargol port for a protest. They alleged they were being bullied by the fishermen of Jafrabad, Porbandar and other areas in Saurashtra, adding they had made several representations to authorities concerned but to no avail.
Nargol fishermen community leader Shailesh Hodiwala said, “We have been into fishing activities for generations. Around a decade ago, the fishermen of Nargol and other neighbouring coastal villages (in South Gujarat) had reached a mutual understanding with fishermen of Jafrabad that they would carry out fishing in their area while we would do it in ours. However, they followed this for only one year before going back to their old ways.”
He further said, “Now they have entered nine nautical mile areas into the sea in Valsad, and carry out box fishing. Their boats are advanced and equipped with the latest technology, carrying 12 to 15 crew members at a time. On the other hand, our boats are simple and carry around six people at a time.”
Box fishing is a phenomenon in which fishing nets tied with plastic pipes are inserted into the sea water where they are kept for a couple of days. Hodiwala said, “Due to box fishing from their side, we don’t get space for ourselves. Our nets also get damaged. They are large in numbers and we cannot fight them… We are being deprived of our livelihood.”
Manish Tandel, fishermen community president of Nargol’s neighbouring Lodhari village, said, “We are scared of going alone deep into the sea now and venture out only in groups of 15 to 20 boats. Due to the presence of corals and other marine species in the coastal area of Valsad, various species of fish such as Bombay duck, Pomfret, lobsters, etc are found in large quantities here. These fishes are in high demand in restaurants in Maharashtra and Gujarat and are even exported to foreign countries. We request the Collector and the government to intervene in the matter and come up with a formula that allows both sides to fish in their respective areas.”
Sources among the fishermen community in Nargol said that this year, around five run-ins have taken place between fishermen of Jafrabad and Valsad in sea. Sometimes, the fishermen loot the cache of the other side and speed away, they added. Stone-pelting incidents and scuffle have also taken place, sources said.
Jafrabad Boat Association’s Kanaiyalal Solanki said, “Their fishermen thrash our colleagues in deep sea areas and even loot our fish along with fishing nets. We are ready to compromise but will not agree with their demand of taking up 50 per cent of the territory.” On allegations of box fishing, he said, “Box fishing is not illegal; it is carried out by fishermen of different states.” Last month, a fisherman of Jafrabad had lodged a police complaint against unidentified fishermen, suspected to be from Valsad, alleging that his boat was pelted with stones on November 9 by a few people who threatened him against fishing in the area. Porbandar marine police have started a probe in the incident. No arrest has been made so far.