Kerala: Fishermen protest Union government‘s decision to mine the sea

The 24-hour coastal area hartal, announced by the Fisheries Coordination Committee in protest the Union government's decision to mine the sea off the coast of Kerala, began on Thursday, 27 February.

Fishermen have refrained from going to sea, and fishing ports, fish landing centres, and fish markets remain closed. Joint protest demonstrations and public meetings are taking place at 125 centres across the state.

Coordination Committee office-bearers T.N. Prathapan, P.P. Chitharanjan, and Charles George stated that the union government has decided to proceed with sand mining in the state without conducting an environmental impact assessment or holding a public hearing, which they argue is a direct challenge to the people of Kerala. A march to the fishermen’s parliament has also been announced for 12 March.

The primary demand is to revoke the decision to allow sand mining from three blocks off the Kollam coast, covering a total area of 242 square kilometres. The Union Ministry of Mines initiated the tendering process last November, with the preferred bidders expected to be announced by 27 March this year.

The Kollam coast is one of the most productive fishing zones along India’s southwest coast. The region is known for species such as deep-sea prawns, shrimps, lobsters, and squid, which are vital to the state's economy.

The ecological concerns raised by opponents of offshore sea sand mining have been substantiated by a study conducted by the Aquatic Biology and Fisheries Department of Kerala University.

The study concluded that any dredging activity in this ecologically sensitive area could have catastrophic effects, threatening marine species, disrupting habitats, and causing irreversible damage to the ecosystem. It could also exacerbate the coastal erosion affecting the region.

Following amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act in 2023, the Central Government now has the authority to exclusively auction mineral concessions for critical minerals, with the revenue from these auctions going to the concerned states.

Based on findings from the Geological Survey of India (GSI), the Ministry of Mines initiated the tendering process for 13 offshore mineral blocks, which includes three blocks of lime mud off the Gujarat coast, three blocks of construction sand off the Kerala coast, and seven blocks of polymetallic nodules and crusts off the Great Nicobar Island coast.

All three blocks off the Kerala coast are located near Kollam. According to the GSI, the loose granular sand, with particle sizes between 0.0625 millimetres and 4 millimetres, is ideal for construction purposes.

Offshore sand is easier to mix than river sand or manufactured sand. Its compliance with construction industry size requirements, along with a reduced environmental impact, are other factors cited by the GSI. The total resources available from the three blocks are estimated at 302 million tonnes.