Fishermen from coastal Andhra are seeking a law in the style of the Forest Rights Act to protect fishing grounds

Participants in a consultation with traditional fishermen from six coastal areas at the Fishery Survey of India hall in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Traditional fishermen from six coastal areas of Andhra have sought a law under the Forest Rights Act to protect their fishing grounds and access routes from displacement by coastal projects. The demand came at a consultation in Visakhapatnam on Thursday (October 8, 2026) attended by 72 delegates from Konaseema, Kakinada, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.

The meeting, held at the Fishery Survey of India hall, was organized by the Intergovernmental Organization of the Bay of Bengal Program (BOBP-IGO), District Fishermen Youth Welfare Association (DFYWA) and FISHCON. The session was presided over by DFYWA Executive Secretary Arjilli Dasu. BOBP-IGO representative Ahana Lakshmi and FISHCON president Surada Rajarao attended.

Fishermen described how changing weather, storm surges and coastal erosion are shortening fishing seasons and depleting stocks. They sought county-by-county ecological mapping so that ecosystem buffers, safe evacuation routes, and storm-proof storage could be built into state disaster plans.

Early warnings at sea

Delegates asked for last-mile early warning systems that provide multi-day forecasts and wind warnings directly to traditional vessels. They recommended linking alerts with INCOIS ocean forecasts, using NavIC and IoT technologies, and holding community-based simulation exercises and operating sea ambulances.

Property rights

Speakers said ambiguous customary rights left fishermen vulnerable to displacement by industry. Delegates urged governments to enact model legislation in line with the Forest Rights Act to legally protect fishing grounds and access corridors**, with** mandatory prior consultation before coastal projects are cleared.

They pointed to overlapping jurisdictions between central and state authorities within territorial waters and recommended amending state marine fisheries regulation laws and coastal zone regulation rules to recognize customary tenure systems and coastal commons.

Participants also sought support for marginalized fishers, especially women in the value chain: legal awareness programs, free legal aid clinics in large fishing groups, non-parametric insurance, structured compensation for mandatory conservation periods, and more staff and training for fisheries departments.

Published – 08 Oct 2026 17:25 IST