The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : India needs network of marine reserves

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 19, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

India needs network of marine reserves

Special Correspondent

This will help in long-term sustainability of costal fisheries, says report

CHENNAI: "Our plan is to have a network of global marine reserve, and the Greenpeace ship, Esperanza, will continue its expedition ... to highlight the ocean crisis and lead the way in identifying the key areas of the network of marine reserves," says Rose Young, Global Project Director, Greenpeace.

In an informal chat with presspersons at the Chennai port, Ms. Young said the current mission was to garner support for Greenpeace's endeavour to "think globally and act locally." The establishment of a network of fully protected marine reserves, she said, was essential to the survival of marine reserves.

Coinciding with the visit of the ship, Greenpeace released a report, "India's coastal and marine environment planning for the future."

Over the last two years, Greenpeace India, with inputs from stakeholders, investigated the status of biodiversity "hotspots" along the country's east coast.

The report says it is essential that India build a network of marine reserves in its coastal waters and throughout its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to fully protect 40 per cent of India's waters. Such a network is essential for conservation and the long-term sustainability of costal fisheries.

Fish stocks will go up

One of the key lessons to be learnt from other countries is that building a network of small marine reserves will help to enhance fish stocks and spread them among more fishing communities all along the coast.

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