Ecologists Want Marine National Parks Along AP Coast To Protect Endangered Species

Ecologists want marine national parks along AP coast to protect endangered species

- On the International Whale Shark Day (August 30), Fisheries authorities are launching an awareness programme for fishermen and students in coastal districts on the importance of protecting marine species for future generations.

- As part of the awareness campaign, inflated balloons in the shape of whale sharks will be floated on the coastline for people to realise the importance of conserving them.

- Fisheries authorities are highlighting the penal provisions of AP Marine Fishing (Regulation) Act, 1994, to discourage fishermen from killing marine species like whale sharks that get stuck in their nets.

Sampat G. Samritan | DC

VIJAYAWADA, AUG. 28

Conservationists have called for establishing marine national parks along the long coastline in Andhra Pradesh, like in Gujarat, to protect species like whale sharks, dolphins, Olive Ridley turtles, and other species.

Whale shark is protected under Schedule 1 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified it as an endangered species globally.

Whale sharks can be spotted off the coastal districts in AP, particularly along mangrove forests like the Coringa and Krishna wildlife sanctuaries. The biggest threat they face is getting entangled in nets of fishermen along with small fish. This has become more frequent of late as fishermen are going deep into the sea, up to nearly 200 nautical miles from the coast, in search of a big catch.

Fishermen are being sensitised to release whale sharks entangled in their nets, if need be by even cutting the net to avoid mortality. However, there appears not much compliance resulting in whale shark mortalities.

Further, forest authorities pay compensation for death of people and livestock or loss of crops in attacks by wild animals like tigers, leopards, elephants, and other animals. Apparently, a similar compensation law is unavailable when whale sharks get entangled or perish in the fishing nets. This is for want of proper verification of claims by fishermen.

Experts suggest adequate compensation for fishermen whose fishing nets are damaged or lost in an attempt to save the life of whale sharks. This would encourage fishermen to save marine species. However, there appears no established procedure to settle such claims from fishermen.

It is suggested stakeholders work out standard operating procedures, so that fishermen are compensated adequately and marine species, especially whale sharks, can be saved.

Former EGREE Foundation state project coordinator and Japan International Cooperation Agency forestry project team leader Dr. T. Ravi Shankar said, “There is a need to develop marine national parks along AP coast on lines of wildlife sanctuaries to conserve and protect endangered marine species like whale sharks.”

Additional principal chief conservator of forests Rahul Pandey said, “Fishing nets are very important for fishermen. If nets are replaced in case they get damaged while releasing the entrapped whale sharks in AP, as is done in Gujarat, it will encourage fishermen to report such incidents and help protect whale sharks, instead of allowing them to die in case they remain entangled in the fishing nets for a long time.” Rahul Pandey said they have replaced about seven to eight fishing nets.

Fisheries authorities remain unconvinced on either compensating the loss of fishing nets or replacing them. They claim there is no system to verify such claims of fishermen. They fear this would encourage false claims for compensation.

Forest authorities are taking up an awareness programme on World Whale Shark Day among the fishermen and students in coastal districts on the importance of protecting the marine species and to conserve it for future generations.

Inflated balloons in the shape of a whale shark are being placed in the coastline where more people visit.

Fisheries authorities are bringing awareness among fishermen on penal provisions of AP Marine Fishing (Regulation) Act,1994 to discourage them from killing marine species.