Lok Sabha Question No. 383 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-15
Subject: New Shipping Channel
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 383

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 TH  SEPTEMBER, 2020

## 'NEW SHIPPING CHANNEL'

## 383. SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  FISHERIES,  ANIMAL  HUSBANDRY  AND  DAIRYING मत्स्यपाऱन , पशुपाऱन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state :

- (a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that the new shipping channel proposed by the Shipping Ministry is through the fishing bank known as 'Kollam Parappu', if so the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has received the representations from the Member of Parliament requesting to reconsider the proposal so as to save the livelihood of the fisherfolk in Kollam and neighboring places;
- (c) if so, the action taken thereon;
- (d)  whether  the  Ministry  of  Shipping  has  consulted  Fisheries  Ministry  prior  to  finalise  the  shipping channel, if so the details thereof;
- (e) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that the existing ecosystem suitable for the growth of fish is disturbed the same will adversely affect the livelihood of the fisherfolk; and
- (f)  if  so,  the  action taken to find out a new fishing channel without disturbing the fishing bank 'Kollam Parappu'?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING:

## (SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI)

- (a) Yes, Sir. As per information received from the Directorate General of Shipping, Ministry of Shipping, the recommendatory routeing system in SW waters is on the outer fringes of the Kollam bank.  The 'routeing  system'  is  located  at  distance  of  more  than  50  kilometers  from  the  coast  and  is  located beyond  the  200m  depth  contour.    It  was  promulgated  after  due  consultations  with  the  stakeholders from  03rd  Aug  2018  to  02nd  July  2020  including  State  Governments  of  Kerala  and  Tamil  Nadu, fishing organizations, Central Government Ministry and Departments and ship owners.
- (b) Yes, Sir. Representations have been received from Honourable Members of Parliament.
- (c) As informed by the Directorate General of Shipping, the concerns raised by the Honourable Members of  Parliament  were  addressed  and  clarified.  It  was  informed  by  the  DG  Shipping  that  the  'routeing system' is only recommendatory.  Also, there has been no loss of livelihood in other areas where such 'routeing  system'  were  introduced.  Honourable  members  were  also  informed  that  the  'routeing system' was expected to be useful in regulating the marine traffic in the area, thereby, improving the safety in the area.
- (d) The  draft  'routeing  system'  was  forwarded  by  DG  Shipping  to  the  then  Department  of  Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) in August, 2018. The then DADF, MoAFW had advised the DG Shipping to have consultation with the stakeholders  including  State  Governments  and  fishermen  associations.  The  DG  Shipping  has  the informed  that  the  stakeholders  were  consulted  from  03rd  Aug  2018  to  02nd  July  2020  prior  to finalising the routeing system including Ministry of Fisheries, Government of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and fishing organisations. The 'Draft Routeing measures' were placed on website and sent to stakeholders for comments on 03 Aug 2018, 10 Sep 2018, 14 June 2019, 01 Aug 2019, 21 Aug 2019 and 31 Jan 2020. Besides, several meetings were held by the Directorate General of Shipping with stakeholders after receipt of comments including representatives of the fishing organisations on 29 Aug 2018, 06 Sep 2018, 07 Sep 2018, 25 Sep 2018, 31 Oct 2019 and 03 March 2020.
- (e) As informed by the Directorate General of Shipping, all factors including ecosystem, fishing density and  effect  on  livelihood  were  considered  prior  the  routeing  system  was  issued  by  DG  Shipping  as recommendatory routeing system. The routeing system was therefore kept outside the 200-meter depth contour at a distance of more than 50 kilometres away from the nearest coast.
- (f) It is informed by the Directorate General of Shipping that the routeing system is recommendatory and not mandatory. As per international law, merchant vessels of all  nationalities have right of innocent passage  through  the  waters  of  every  country  including  the  territorial  waters.  In  view  of  the  same, merchant vessels of all nationalities are currently navigating within Indian territorial waters including through the 'Kollam Bank'.  This has resulted in several collision incidents between merchant vessels and fishing vessels, resulting in loss of property and environmental pollution but in several instances, it has also resulted in loss of precious lives. To improve the safety in the area, a routeing system was considered  by  DG  Shipping.   Initially,  the  proposed  routeing  system  was  planned  over  a  large  area closer to the South West coast. However, after due consultation with local Governments and fishing organisations, the routeing system was limited to a small area in SW Indian waters beyond the 200m depth contour, at a distance of more than 50 kilometres. The routeing system is expected to encourage merchant vessels to use the defined path, instead of the entire Territorial Waters and EEZ that is now available, thereby, leaving more space for the fishing vessels.

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