‘One man,one boat’ hits fishermen hard

The Gujarat Maritime Board Act amendment in 2003 bans addition of new boats given the limited port infrastructure. With depleting marine catch,the GMB has imposed a ban on addition of new boats.

The number of motorised trawlers in 2003 registered with various ports including Porbandar,Veraval,Mangrol,Jaffrabad and Okha was nearly 24,000. Nearly six years later,it is the same.

“All the ports are already overcrowded. Against a capacity of 400 boats,Veraval harbour has over 1,200. Other harbours including Porbandar and Mangrol are facing the same problem. There’s simply no space to accommodate more boats,” said a senior port official from Veraval.

But for Lodhari,who has a big family to tend to,it gets difficult. For several years,his sole boat was the source of income for his family of five including two sons and a daughter. His sons have now attained marriageable age and so,the family business needs to be expanded.

Besides,the fall in marine catch of over 30 per cent in the last couple of years,which was 140,000 tonnes in 2006,has also been cited as a reason to limit the number of boats. Species like red snapper,sand lobster,eel,kati,banana white shrimps have almost become extinct.

Both fishing and maritime board officials argue that for the overall health of fishing and the sea food industry,a ban on new boats is a need of the hour.

But for a small time boat owner,it has proved to be an unsettling blow. “I make Rs 1-1.5 lakh per annum through one boat. Now,when my two sons are getting married,we need higher income to support the family,” said Lodhari,adding,”I can manage a loan and get a new boat,but I can’t get a licence required from the maritime board.”

Jivan Jungi,president of Porbandar Boat Association,said,”It’s time for small boat owners to call it quits. Nearly 40 per cent of over 500 boat owners from Porbandar town have only one boat and rules have limited the chance of further growth.”

Megha Kharva,another boat owner,said,”If a farmer can buy as much land as he wants,why can’t fishermen have as many boats they want? If the government cannot add to the port infrastructure,it is not our fault.”

Very little development work has been done on harbours in the last 20 years. All the harbours,due to lack of parking,water supply,drainage and jetty facilities,do not even qualify for European Union import norms. Even dredging is not carried out,which hinders smooth movement of boats near the harbour.