Latest news with #CharlesGeorge
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Fishers' body slams Govt for allowing deep-sea vessels
The All India Deep Sea Fishers' Association has come out against the Union Fisheries Ministry's decision to allow large vessels to operate in deep-sea areas beyond India's sovereign maritime zone. In a letter to Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj Rajeev Ranjan Singh, the association said the decision will impact the fortunes of small-scale traditional fishing vessels. Association chief Charles George said the decision to allow Indian-owned vessels in deep sea was part of the Blue economy policy of the Union Government unveiled in 2020. 'We request the Union government… revitalise small-scale and traditional fishermen through modernisation, cooperative strengthening and fair subsidies.'' Urging the government to reject the push for industrial deep-sea vessels, the association said such a move will only worsen ecological and economic crises. George said as per Central government data, 3,14,677 fishing vessels operate within India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 'However, sustainable fishing practices require only 93,287 vessels… Yet, we cannot outright claim that we have crossed sustainability thresholds because we have predominantly small-scale and traditional vessels.'' The body rejected the government stand that allowing large vessels for deep-sea fishing will help tap the hitherto untapped resources. 'Only 4 per cent of India's fish wealth lies in deep waters… due to scarcity in deep waters, these vessels eventually encroach into near-shore zones. Now, with 1.5 to 4 lakh-watt LED lights at the huge vessels attracting fish from coastal waters, the pressure on already strained near-shore ecosystem will intensify… devastate thousands of small-scale boats operating in deep waters, where 64,000 fishermen are working,'' said the association chief.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Fishers raise concern over Centre's move
The All India Deep Sea Fisher's Association has expressed concern over the Union government's move to permit large vessels owned by Indian companies to operate in deep-sea areas beyond the country's sovereign maritime zone. 'While this privilege is reserved for Indian entities, the move raises significant concerns, especially in the light of the meeting convened by the Fisheries Ministry on June 11,' said Charles George, president of the association, in a letter to Union Minister for Fisheries Rajiv Ranjan Singh. The government said that allowing large vessels would enable deep-sea fishing to tap the hitherto untapped resources. However, only 4% of India's fish wealth lay in deep waters. Catching these scattered resources required massive fuel expenditure, making it economically unviable. Mr. George said large vessels eventually encroached on near-shore zones due to scarcity in deep waters. At the time, 1.5 to 4 lakh-watt LED lights were attracting fish from coastal waters, further intensifying pressure on already strained near-shore ecosystems. This, he added, would impact thousands of small-scale boats operating in deep waters. The association has urged the Centre to revitalise small-scale and traditional fisheries through modernisation, cooperative strengthening, and fair subsidies. It also called for rejecting the push for industrial deep-sea vessels, which will only worsen ecological and economic crises.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- The Hindu
Shipwreck: PIL filed before Kerala HC seeking environmental security deposit
Social activist and president of Kerala Fish Workers Coordination Committee and Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Union Charles George has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Kerala High Court, seeking $134 million as environmental security deposit, citing, among others, the threat to marine biodiversity following the sinking on May 25 of a container vessel MSC ELSA 3, approximately 14.60 nautical miles off the Alappuzha coast. The vessel was carrying 643 containers, including 244 with hazardous and noxious substances, 58 with foreign waste, and over 450 metric tonnes of marine fuel. Despite the confirmed presence of this dangerous cargo, neither adequate wreck removal nor oil extraction has been carried out. In his petition, Mr. George said that one of the gravest concerns emerging from the sinking of the vessel was the apparent and deliberate misdeclaration or non-declaration of cargo, which not only violated Indian Customs laws and international maritime conventions but also posed significant risks to public safety, national security, and environmental integrity. The incident has in turn triggered catastrophic ecological, economic and legal consequences. The hazardous materials in the containers and bunker oil pose severe risks to Kerala's marine biodiversity, particularly during the monsoon fish spawning season. Oil sardines, a vital source of income for Kerala's coastal fishermen, are at risk of extinction due to this maritime disaster. The incident has exposed glaring regulatory failures — cargo misdeclaration, lack of advanced container scanning at ports, insufficient port State control (PSC) measures, and a disturbing attempt to evade liability through corporate structuring. This has also made arrest under the Admiralty Act ineffective, necessitating urgent judicial directions to secure $134 million as environmental security deposit before the court as interim security for environmental and economic damage, Mr. George said in his petition. Through this PIL, he sought urgent and comprehensive relief to mitigate the environmental, legal and economic fallout of the ship sinking incident. He also sought a direction to arrest any MSC vessel within India's Admiralty jurisdiction to secure maritime claims and a direction for an immediate and independent investigation into the gross cargo misdeclaration, an order mandating the installation of advanced scanning, detection and verification infrastructure at all Indian ports and a time-bound, court-monitored wreck removal and environmental remediation operation.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Shipwreck off Kerala coast: Plea seeks arrest of ship against $134-million damage claim
Kochi: A petition has been filed in high court seeking a directive to arrest any vessel of the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) currently within Indian admiralty jurisdiction, to secure a maritime claim of $134 million for the damage caused by the capsizing of the cargo vessel MSC ELSA 3 off Kerala coast. The public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Charles George, president of Kerala Fish Workers Coordination Committee and Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Union, has been adjourned to Wednesday by the bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji for consideration along with related petitions. The Liberian-flagged MSC ELSA 3 sank approximately 14.6 nautical miles off Alappuzha coast on May 25. The petitioner submitted that the incident has triggered catastrophic ecological, economic and legal consequences. The continued presence of hazardous containers and bunker oil poses severe risks to Kerala's marine biodiversity, particularly during the monsoon fish spawning season protected under the trawling ban. Oil sardines, a vital source of income for Kerala's coastal fishermen, are at risk of extinction due to this maritime disaster. He also prayed for a directive to MSC to initiate and complete urgent wreck removal operations of the sunken vessel MSC ELSA 3 in a strict time-bound manner. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The petition further sought a directive to the shipping company to deposit an amount of $134 million with the high court registry as security for future compensation to be awarded to the affected stakeholders, including the local fishing community, environmental agencies and state govt, in proportion to the environmental and economic damage caused by the incident. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Ernakulam fishermen face fishing ban, environmental fears after MSC Elsa ship sinks off Alappuzha coast
KOCHI: In the wake of the MSC Elsa 3 ship sinking off Alappuzha coast, fishermen, coastal residents and boat operators in Ernakulam have raised concerns over the disruption to fishing activities and the impact on their livelihoods from its containers and cargo washing ashore. They say the incident has imposed an 'undeclared ban' on fishing, which is more severe than the usual seasonal restrictions implemented during monsoon. Coastal residents have also raised alarm over the potential environmental consequences, including leakage from the containers severely damaging marine biodiversity and fragile ecosystems already under stress. 'We've been struggling for a long time with multiple challenges, including declining marine biodiversity and lack of support packages. Now, incidents like the ship sinking have added to our hardships,' said Philip, a fisherman from Vypeen. 'Some of the containers are said to carry hazardous material. Just when the sea was starting to show signs of revival with a promising sardine season, this disaster threatens marine biodiversity once again,' he said. 'This isn't just a problem for fishermen, it's a concern for the entire society,' he added. Charles George, state president of the Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Aikyavedi under the Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI), warned that the cargo ship capsize and potential spill from drifting containers could severely impact the lives of lakhs of people in coastal communities. 'According to reports, some of the containers carried dangerous substances, including calcium carbide. It raises serious concerns. Why were such containers headed to Kochi? Charles asked, demanding a comprehensive investigation.
