Temporary Victory for CPF Campaigns - Floating of glowing buoys temporarily stalled

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Published: July 30, 2010 00:00 IST | Updated: July 30, 2010 04:17 IST
“Floating of glowing buoys temporarily stalled”

Special Correspondent

Protected: Minister for Forests N. Selvaraj (second from right) visiting the Kurusadai island in Gulf of Mannar on Thursday. — Photo: L. Balachandar
The floating of glowing buoys along the core zone of Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (GMMNP), which covers the coast from Rameswaram to Kanyakumari, has been halted temporarily, according to Minister for Forests N. Selvaraj.

Speaking to ‘The Hindu' after visiting the Kurusadai island in Gulf of Mannar along with H. Mallesappa, Conservator of Forest and M. Sundarakumar, Warden, GMMNP, on Thursday, he said though the Government was committed to demarcate the core zone, which was a protected area and where many conservation programmes were undertaken by the State Government with the support of United Nations Development Programme, it was halted for the time being as a section fishermen raised apprehension over the movement restriction.

Mr. Selvaraj said that the proposed demarcation was not aimed at restricting the fishermen but it was part of the Government efforts to save the endangered marine species, which were abundant in the protected area of Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. Sea cow, sea horse, corals, sea cucumbers were among the 3600 globally endangered species, living in Gulf of Mannar.

There was no movement restriction for the fishermen to go to other fishing areas through the core zone. They were not supposed to poach marine animals in the core zone, where endangered prohibited species were found.

The Minister said core zone was just 560 sq km out of a total area of 10,500 sq km of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. Core zone was negligible when compared to the large area of the reserve. Fishermen could continue their operation as usual in the traditional area except the core zone.

The Government was sympathetic to the apprehension expressed by a group of fishermen stating that they would be subjected to “tough action” by forest officials if they happened to cross the core zone, where glowing buoys were proposed to be floated.

The Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, who was supportive to the cause of fishermen, would take a decision that would be acceptable to all stakeholders including the fishermen and environmentalists. The proposal would only be implemented after clearing the doubts raised by them. Asked about the demand of fishermen to lift the ban on sea cucumber and sea horse, Mr. Selvaraj said the role of State government was limited in the issue, as it was a national policy and the ban scheduled animals was imposed by the Centre.

Printable version | Jul 30, 2010 11:35:12 PM | http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article541393.ece