Maharashtra Fisherwomen to Write to President Seeking Coastal Rights

At a resolution passed on the first International Fisherwomen’s Day function in Mumbai, a decision was taken to also demand heritage site status for ethnic fisherfolk colonies, The Hindu has reported.

The Wire Staff

maharashtra fisherwomen to write to president seeking coastal rights

Representative image. Women fish along the coast of the Bidyadhari river in the Sundarbans, West Bengal. The area is witness to coast erosion, among other climate related problems. Photo: Photo: Ryan Rozario and Pawanjot Kaur

New Delhi: Fisherwomen in Maharashtra are planning to write to President Droupadi Murmu for a law that can protect the coastal rights of residents of all the coastal villages of India, The Hindu has reported.

At a resolution passed on the first International Fisherwomen’s Day function in Mumbai, a decision was taken to also demand heritage site status for ethnic fisherfolk colonies.

The Mumbai event was organised jointly by the World Forum for Fisherpeople, National Fishworkers Forum, Maharashtra Macchimar Kruti Samiti and Daryawardi Mahila Sangh.

The day, as The Wire has reported, was declared at the India Fisher Women Assembly in 2024 and endorsed by the World Forum of Fisher Peoples at its General Assembly in Brazil. It has since evolved into a five-week campaign (November 5 to December 10).

“I stay in the coastal region of Maharashtra. Our traditional rights have come under threat today. For centuries, we have fished and settled on the coasts, protecting the coastline. But today, our land is being grabbed under Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA). Our rights are being snatched away,” The Hindu reported, quoting from the draft letter.

Also read: Breaking the Nets: An Oral History of India's Fisherwomen

The letter sought the reimplementation of the 2011 Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification which was issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to protect coastal areas and manage development. It categorises coastal stretches into five zones and establishes rules for construction and other activities with the aim of conserving the environment while supporting sustainable development for traditional fishing communities.

The CRZ 2019 notification, on the other hand diluted many of these protections, and became what fisherfolk believe paved the way for construction efforts to take place with greater impunity.

The letter demanded that the fisherfolk colonies be notified as heritage sites in the development plans and CRZ regulations. “Community-based tourism should be encouraged through homestays, food courts, houseboats, cultural walks etc. Women’s self-help groups should be supported,” the letter stated, according to the report.

Reports have highlighted how destructive fishing practices have harmed fisherfolk, and especially women.

This article went live on November sixth, two thousand twenty five, at fifty-three minutes past twelve at noon.

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