CANNING, 22 MAY: Demanding their right to the forest, Sunderbans fishermen here today said it is forest department officials who flout rules in the biosphere reserve, not villagers. "We want immediate implementation of Forest Rights Act, 2006, in the islands so that high-handedness of the forest officials stops," said Sunderbans Fishworkers Joint Action Committee member Pabitra Mondal.

US energy giant ConocoPhillips and CNOOC Ltd have agreed to jointly pay $48 million in compensation to Chinese fishermen and restore the maritime environment in the Bohai Bay area after a major oil spill there last year, state media reported on Sunday.
ConocoPhillips and China’s top offshore oil and gas producer CNOOC reached a preliminary agreement to pay the compensation through the Qinhuangdao city government in the northern province of Hebei, state-owned China National Radio said.

As Greenpeace completes 10 years in India, it chalks up its successes and faces some flak. Kunal Majumder looks at both sides of the story

MUMBAI: Scientists in a quiet neighbourhood in Versova are testing the waters to see if Mumbai can be turned into a Gold Coast of sorts. Every morning, they try to map out areas in the sea where fishermen might find more schools of fish that day. Along the coastline of Maharashtra, as kolis assemble at the jetty before embarking on a fishing trip, they gravitate towards the community notice board for updates. Advance storm warnings are welcome during the monsoon, but on a routine basis, they are keener to know which direction to head in to net a bigger catch.

NEW DELHI: In response to anti-Kudankulam nuclear plant protestors threatening to sue Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the government is ready to reveal records showing how foreign funds were used to give local agitators daily handouts of money, food and liquor. The government is ready to back its charge that groups opposed to the Kudankulam nuclear plant diverted donations received under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act for purposes other than stated objectives like health and education. The money helped sustain the stir at Kudankulam.

Indian aquaculture farms are upbeat about the rising prospects of farmed shrimps in the overseas market. Both the black tiger and vannamei varieties from India have been going at a premium in the foreign market, particularly in Southeast Asia. A shortage of shrimps in countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and China has raised the demand of Indian varieties.

Fishermen held a demonstration in the city on Tuesday against India’s controversial Tipaimukh dam saying it would adversely affect livelihoods and life of over three lakh fishermen in Bangladesh’s north-eastern districts.

Speaking at a rally in front of the National Press Club fishermen’s leaders said that at least 10 rivers in Bangladesh including the Surma, Kushiyara and Meghna would dry up causing gradual desertification in the northeastern districts of lower riparian Bangladesh.

They said it would directly affect the life and livelihood of the country’s fishermen.

Ranchi, Jan. 17: The state fisheries department is looking at setting up hatcheries to increase seed production and net a bigger haul of fish.
The department will set up 40 fish seed hatcheries across the state to breed carp such as rohu, katla, mirgel as well as other Indian and exotic varieties under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. The department is also eyeing to generate 100 crore fish seeds or fertilised eggs and 320 crore fish spawns or released eggs.

BALASORE: Dry fish, a popular delicacy in the State, has become a cause for concern for thousands of residents in and around Chandipur and Balaramgadi areas of Balasore district. Even as the toxic substances used as preservative in dry fish have been banned by the Fisheries Department, a dry fish-processing unit at Naupalgadi near the base of Budhabalanga river has been allegedly using them violating the ban order.