CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by CMFRI Digital Repository ISSN 0254-380 X MARINE FISHERIES INFORMATION SERVICE No. 162 tobei '--r, December 1999 I TECHNICAL ANI <=l c-H EXTENSION SERIES ^'^'M iAi±^ 4-lir^^-Mchl CENTRAL MARINE FISHERIES ar^J^STT^ ^FTFSTPT RESEARCH INSTITUTE chlPclH, ^TRTT COCHIN, INDIA INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 915 COASTAL ZONE GOVERNANCE: KERALA IN RELATION TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SITUATIONS M. Oevaraj, N.G. Menon, V.K. Pillai and K. Balachandran Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Cochin - 682 014, India Introduction The CRZ is classified into 4 categories for the prohibition or control of various activities Some of the leading coastal countries like (Table 1 and 2). Subsequently, the Depart­ Australia, China, France, Israel, Japan. New ment of Ocean Development (DOD) of the Zealand, Oman, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand. government of India, after evaluating the cur­ Turkey, U.K., U.S.A and others have taken rent and future activities in the ocean part of urgent steps for coastal zone management the coastal zone, prepared a declaration for the following the 1992 United Nations Conference extension of the CRZ to the outer limit of ter­ on Environment and Development (UNCED) to ritorial sea (upto 12 nm from the lowest low meet their commitments to the sustainable water level), as defined under the Maritime development of coastal areas and the marine environment under the national Jurisdiction as Zones Act, 1976 to prohibit and regulate cer­ per Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 of the above tain activities and processes in conjunction conference. As the coastal zone is generally with the existing acts, rules and notifications. busy with many economic activities like The draft ORZ (Ocean Regulation Zone) docu­ agriculture, forestry, fisheries, transport and ment recognizes three zones (ORZ. I, II and III) manufacturing industries, it is necessary to similar to the CRZ. The landward boundary of accord priority to the conservation of the the ORZ including the enclosed seas, estuar­ natural resources and the coastal ecosystem ies and backwaters is not mentioned in the to ensure their sustainable development. ORZ draft report (Table 3 and 4). Therefore, many coastal countries have evolved TABLE 1. Classification of coastal regulation Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) zone in India (as per thel991 Notification) plans. In many countries the coastal zone extends from the territorial limit (the wet side) Category of Description to the tidally influenced habitat (the dry side). CRZ This entire zone comprising the wetside and dry side is treated as a single unit where the Category I (i) Areas that are ecologically landward boundaries vary depending on the sensitive and important, such objectives and needs of the issues. Both the as national parks / marine wet side and the dry side of this zone are parks, sanctuaries, reserved generally managed and governed by a single forests, wild life habitats, agency. India too has initiated actions to mangroves, corals / coral reefs, exercise powers under Section 3(1) and 3(2) (v) areas close to breeding and of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 spawning grounds of fish and through a legal instrument called the Coastal other marine life, areas of Regulation Zone Notification issued in 1991 by outstanding natural beauty - the Ministry of Environment and Forests historical / heritage areas, (MOEF). This zone extends from the low tide areas rich in genetic diversity. Line (LTL) to a distance of 500 m and the land­ (11) Areas between the Low Tide ward side (including the estuaries and back­ Line and the High Tide Line. waters) influenced by the tidal action. In this zone as many as 13 activities and processes Category II The areas that have already are proposed to be prohibited and 4 of them been developed, within the regulated through the provisions of the CRZ municipal limits or in other le­ Notification. gally designated urban areas up to or close to the shore line. mal power stations. Category III Areas that are relatively undis­ 8. Land reclamation, building or disturbing turbed and those which do not the natural course of seawater with simi­ belong to either category I or lar obstructions, except those required II. These will include coastal for control of coastal erosion and main­ zone in the rural areas (devel­ tenance or clearing of waterways, chan­ oped and undeveloped) and nels ports, for prevention of sandbars. also areas within Municipal limits or in other legally desig­ 9. Mining of sand, rocks and other sub­ nated urban areas, which are strata materials, except those rare min­ not substantially built up. erals not available outside the CRZ ar­ eas. Category IV Coastal stretches in the Andaman and Nicobar, Laksha- 10. Harvesting or drawal of groundwater and dweep and small islands except construction of mechanisms therefore those designated as CRZ I, II. within 200 m of HTL; In the 200-500 m zone it shall be permitted only when done TABLE 2. Prohibited activities in the Indian CRZ manually through ordinary wells for (as per the 1991 Notification) drinking, horticulture, agriculture and fisheries. 1. Setting up of new industries and expansion of existing industries. 11. Construction activities in ecologically sensitive areas. Manufacture or handling or storage or disposal of hazardous substances. 12. Any construction activity between the low tide line and high tide line except facili­ Setting up and expansion offish process­ ties for carrying treated effluents and ing units including warehousing (exclud­ waste water discharges into the sea, fa­ ing hatchery and natural fish drying in cilities for carrying seawater for cooling permitted areas). purposes, oil, gas and similar pipelines Setting up and expansion of units / and facilities essential for activities mechanisms for disposal of waste and ef­ permitted under this Notification; and fluents, except facilities required for dis­ 13. Dressing or altering of sand dunes, hills, charging treated effluents into the water natural features including landscape course with approval under the Water changes for beautification, recreational (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, and other such purposes, except as per­ 1974. missible under this Notification. 5. Discharge of untreated wastes and efflu­ ents from industries, cities or towns and The coastal zone has the highest biologi­ other human settlement. cal diversity, but as a common property, it is easily accessible to the various users. There­ Dumping of city or town waste for the fore, the ongoing and prospective threats to purpose of land filling or otherwise; the the coastal life support systems need to be existing practice, if any, shall be phased regulated through appropriate acts including out within a reasonable time not exceed­ the proposed biodiversity act. India, as a party ing three years from the date of this No­ to the International Convention on Biological tification. Diversity (enforced in 1993), has recently Dumping of ash or any wastes from ther- drafted a Biological Diversity Act for the pur- pose of conserving the biological resources, Category 111 Territorial sea areas adjacent to both indigenously occurring and naturalised, coastal areas which are yet to be to sustain their use and share their benefits used for developmental purposes equitably. {not used for activities mentioned under Category 11 (ORZ II) and TABLE 3. Classification of the proposed draft which have been used for ocean regulation zone developmental purposes to a limited extent (construction of Category of Description fishing harbours and navigation al ORZ channel) and also the sea areas be­ Category I Territorial sea areas adjacent to tween two developed areas. the main land and Andaman & Nlcobar and Lakshadweep islands TABLE 4. Prohibited activities in the proposed that are ecologically sensitive and ORZ important such as national parks 1. Reclamation of sea for human settlement, /marine parks / marine depen­ construction of artificial Islands for other dent wild life sanctuaries, habitats commercial purpose is prohibited all of endangered estuarine and ma­ along the coastline of the country. rine species, marine environment of mangroves, corals, corals reefs, 2. Dumping of solid wastes, including areas close to breeding and spawn­ plastic wastes arising from municipal. ing grounds of fish and other ma­ Industrial and all the other sources in­ rine life, areas of outstanding cluding from the ship breaking Indus­ natural beauty / historical / cul­ tries. tural / heritage areas, areas rich in genetic diversity and such other 3. Dumping of toxic wastes (as listed under areas as may be declared by the EPA 1986) is prohibited in ORZ I, 11, and Central / State governments un­ III areas. der relevant Acts like Wildlife (Pro­ 4. Construction of civil and other manmade tection) Act, 1972. structures and breakwaters, OTEC plants, floating Industries/structures/ Category II Territorial sea areas adjacent to Single Buoy Mooring Stations, lightening the coastal areas that have already operations, laying of pipelines for trans­ been used for development such as port of oil, establishment of artificial Is­ (1) construction of berths, wharf, lands, reefs, exploration and exploitation navigational channel etc. in major of oil and natural gas, reclamation of sea and minor ports, (ii) sea off coastal and Its bed and sea bed mining in the industries, power plants, refineries critical habitats which are Ecologically and other industries which use sea Sensitive. However, such constructions for waste disposal through creeks, /establishments will be permitted at a canals and pipelines, (ill) reclaimed no-impact distance from the outer limits areas, oil and gas transfer facili­ of these habitats. ties, (iv) Corporation, Municipal limits of cities and towns, (v) sea 5. Ship breaking activities are prohibited In off coastal areas being used for the critical habitats. However, such ac­ ship building and ship breaking tivities will be permitted beyond the no- activities, (vi) sea off beach resorts, impact distance from the outer limit of marinas etc.