Sea exploitation

Dear Urvashi,

Caught: Taiwanese vessels, pretending to be Indian ^[1], stealing fish and the livelihoods of Indian fishers.

They are doing this by misusing the Letters of Permit (LoP) scheme. ^[2]The scheme allows Indian fishing firms to fish in India’s seas, but is being flouted by foreign fishing vessels, mainly from Thailand and Taiwan. These vessels exploit regulatory loopholes so they can fish, often illegally, in India’s seas.

Our seas are losing their health, fishing communities their livelihood, and the government, its revenue. The Ministry of Agriculture, which issues the LoPs, needs to crack-down on this fishing racket. Minister Sharad Pawar needs to act now.

You should ask Minster Sharad Pawar to stop this racket by suspending the LoP scheme because it is destroying the livelihoods of fishing communities and marine ecosystems.

http://www.greenpeace.in/take-action/save-our-oceans/esperanza-in-india.php

So far the ministry has ignored the questions raised on its faulty LoP scheme. The strength of the petition depends on the number of signatures on it. Lakhs of people demanding action will show them that the issue has not gone unnoticed and needs to be sorted.

There is enough evidence for the Minister to take action. The country’s fish stock, marine habitats and the livelihood of millions need to be protected.

Ask the Ministry of Agriculture to act now!

http://www.greenpeace.in/take-action/save-our-oceans/esperanza-in-india.php

Thanks a billion!

Areeba Hamid
Oceans Campaigner
Greenpeace India

PS: Greenpeace is an independent organisation funded by individuals like you. Make a contribution to help this work and become a proud owner of a Greenpeace grocery bag made of organic cotton. Click here to chip in.

Sources:

1. The vessels Balaji No. 5, Balaji No. 6 and Balaji No. 9 which are registered as Indian vessels under the LoP scheme are also concurrently and actively registered under Taiwan. Dual registration of fishing vessels is illegal in India.
   http://www.greenpeace.org/india/Global/india/docs/Ship-tour-2012/LOP-Vessel-Flag-Research-DCopeland-Jan-2012.xlsx
2. The Great Indian Tuna Robbery, Tehelka, February 22, 2012
   http://www.tehelka.com/story_main51.asp?filename=Ws220212FISHING.asp

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