Andhra Fishers Push for Forest Rights Act‑Style Law to Safeguard Fishing Grounds

Traditional fishers from six coastal Andhra districts have pressed the state for a law modelled on the Forest Rights Act to protect their fishing grounds and access routes from displacement by coastal projects. The demand was voiced at a consultation held on Thursday, Oct 8, 2026, in the Fishery Survey of India hall in Visakhapatnam, where 72 delegates from Konaseema, Kakinada, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam gathered. The meeting was organised by the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter‑Governmental Organisation, the District Fishermen Youth Welfare Association and FISHCON, with DFYWA executive secretary Arjilli Dasu chairing the sessions and representatives Ahana Lakshmi (BOBP‑IGO) and Surada Rajarao (FISHCON) speaking. Delegates warned that changing weather, storm surges and coastal erosion are shortening fishing seasons and depleting stocks. They called for district‑wise ecological mapping to embed ecosystem buffers, safe evacuation routes and storm‑proof storage into state disaster plans. Fishermen also asked for last‑mile early‑warning systems that send multi‑day forecasts and wind alerts directly to traditional boats, suggesting integration with INCOIS ocean forecasts and the use of NavIC and IoT technologies, along with community mock drills and sea‑ambulances. Speakers said vague customary rights leave fishers open to displacement by industry. They urged the government to enact model legislation, similar to the Forest Rights Act, that legally safeguards fishing grounds and access corridors and mandates prior consultation before coastal projects are approved. The delegates highlighted overlapping jurisdiction between central and state authorities and asked for amendments to the State Marine Fisheries Regulation Acts and Coastal Regulation Zone rules to recognise customary tenure and coastal commons. They also sought legal awareness programmes, free legal‑aid clinics, non‑parametric insurance and structured compensation for mandatory conservation closed seasons, especially for women in the value chain.

Context

The Forest Rights Act, passed in 2006, recognises tribal communities’ rights over forest land; fishers are seeking a comparable legal framework to protect their traditional marine commons from commercial development.