Small fishermen have embarked on a month-long boat rally from Fraserganj in South 24-Parganas to Farakka in Murshidabad to press for the rights to fish in rivers and the protection of fishing zones that are increasingly threatened by the growing use for navigation.
The movement, spearheaded by the Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum (DMF), is part of a larger campaign to protect rivers, aquatic life and the livelihoods of approximately a few lakh marginal fishermen in Bengal.
On Tuesday, 50 representatives of the organisation, a wing of the National Federation of Small-Scale Fish Workers, set out from Fraserganj and will stop at 50 points before concluding the journey at Farkka on December 23.
The fishermen have demanded community land rights (pattas) to stretches of riverbanks used for pre-and post-fishing activities such as cleaning, sorting, and drying catches. They also demanded the demarcation of fishing zones along inland waterways to prevent conflicts with navigation.
Among other demands are a ban on destructive fishing practices, such as bottom trawling and the use of mosquito nets, which harm fish populations, including prized species like Hilsa, and mitigation of pollution in rivers caused by industrial and transboundary waste. The organisation placed the 12-point charter of demands before the central and state governments.
Inland waterways spanning over 14,500km in India are the cornerstone of riverine trade and transportation. However, the waterways pose significant challenges to small fishermen. Ships often damage fishing nets and the navigation of mercantile vessels disrupts aquatic ecosystems.
Milan Das, the general secretary of the DMF, said: “The government’s push for development through inland waterways is destroying fishing zones, polluting rivers and jeopardising our livelihoods. Protecting rivers and demarcating fishing zones should be a priority, not an afterthought.”
Fishermen blocked a ship that damaged their nets on Ghoramara Island in South 24-Parganas recently. They released the ship only after receiving compensation.
Frequent vessel movements for bilateral trade disrupt fishing activities along the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route, leaving fishermen with little recourse for compensation or resolution.
In Nadia district, the Mathabhanga and Churni rivers are severely polluted by industrial waste from a Bangladeshi sugar factory. Despite a Green Bench directive to address the issue diplomatically, no substantial progress has been made.
“Polluted water kills fish, and without fish, fishermen cannot survive,” said Swapan Bhowmik, a fisherman from Majhdia.
The fishermen said the unchecked use of destructive practices such as bottom trawling depletes fish populations. Although the Marine Act permits mid-water trawling, excessive siltation that raised the riverbed has turned this into bottom trawling, causing irreversible harm to river ecosystems.
The DMF also called for a ban on deep-sea fishermen encroaching within the 12-nautical-mile zone reserved for small-scale fishermen, but the fisheries department said it lacked the technology and infrastructure to monitor violations.
A senior state fisheries department official said: “We have proposed amendments to the Marine Act to ban trawling entirely, but the state government has yet to act on it. Without silt removal or better enforcement, these issues will persist.”
As the rally progresses, the DMF aims to raise awareness and engage local administrations.
“Fishermen are the natural custodians of rivers,” said Nikhil Das, a fisherman from Namkhana. “If the government truly values rivers and aquatic life, it must recognise and empower us to protect them.”
The fishermen said through the rally, they wanted to convey a clear message about the need for sustainable river management. “It is not just an environmental necessity but a socio-economic imperative for millions dependent on the rivers of Bengal,” a fisherman said.
