MANGALORE: A three-day conference of the National Fishworkers Forum began here on Tuesday with a call for a national deep-sea fishing policy. The policy should have enough teeth to prevent foreign fishing corporations from poaching in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The leader of the World Forum of Fisher People (WFFP), Thomas Kochery, said the absence of a deep-sea fishing policy has led to a plethora of problems that need to be tackled without political considerations. After India's entry into the World Trade Organisation, the Indian EEZ has been overrun by Western multinational fishing corporations. It has now become a question of the livelihood of the country's fishermen. He also said the forum would press for the implementation of the Murari Committee report.

Fr. Kochery said the forum, which has been working with all political parties to resolve various issues threatening the livelihood of fishermen, has been able to stop over 2,500 foreign bull trawlers from entering the Indian EEZ.

But without a national deep-sea fishing policy, such confrontations will continue, he said.

Tourism Minister D.T. Jayakumar, who is the Minister in charge of Udupi district, said it is not possible for the country to dissociate itself from the WTO, but it is possible to protect the interests of fishermen.

The president of the Coastal Karnataka Fishermen's Action Committee, Pramod Madhwaraj, said there is a need to develop fisheries infrastructure all along the coast and provide cold storage chains, landing centres and other facilities, which might cost Rs. 300 crores.

N. Yogish Bhat, Mangalore MLA, who presided, announced a donation of Rs. 5 lakhs for the construction of a rest-house for fishworkers from his area development fund.

Manorama Madhwaraj, MP, who said fishermen should work together to stop polluting industries from being set up in the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada.

Over 100 leaders of fishermen from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal are attending the conference.

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