The Indian Role of in of Fishers at Sea*

Prabhakaran Paleri, Director-General, Coast Guard,

he Coast Guard was set up • carrying out other duties as only in 1978. But an assigned by the Government of Tumbilical chord already without duplication of seems to bind the Coast Guard and effort. the marine fisheries community. The Coast Guard is led by a The Coast Guard has multiple Director-General, from headquarters responsibilities, and strengthening in New Delhi. It has three regional the safety of fishers is only one of commands at , and them. It needs to develop its , and 11 district commands capabilities in this respect. – one in each coastal State, two in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Fishers are vulnerable to disasters of enforcement, marine environmental Thus the Coast Guard is a multi- several kinds – accidents, casualties, security and fisheries. These call for mission public service provider with abductions, alien interventions. The monitoring, control, surveillance fisher community must ensure that and response (MCSR) at sea. Coast short-term as well as long-term its vessels meet safety requirements Guards all over the maritime world strategic goals. Most of its duties are and are able to provide essential are country-specific, and to that relevant either directly or indirectly information in times of disaster. The extent asymmetrical in their duties to fishers and their livelihoods. But it can be deployed for law and treaty Indian Coast Guard cannot assist and functions, though they have enforcement, as well as for fishers exclusively, but concern for some common traits. fishers is central to its aims. humanitarian, diplomatic, The Indian Coast Guard too has its environmental and military goals. The Indian Coast Guard was exclusive characteristics. The Coast The strategic role of the Coast formally inaugurated on 18 Aug Guard’s duties and functions, as Guard is to protect the maritime 1978 as an independent armed force spelled out in the Coast Guard Act, zones from illegal activities of the Indian Union, through an act 1978, include: of Parliament. It is the fourth armed including infiltration through • safety and protection of islands maritime routes, and environmental force under the Ministry of Defence and offshore structures; – the first three being the Army, the damage, and provide humanitarian Navy and the Air Force. It has a • protection and preservation of and scientific assistance within the specific charter for non-military maritime environment and maritime domain. endangered species; security; but it addresses issues Mission Statements of the Indian related to national defence. Its motto • prevention and control of Coast Guard pollution in the maritime zones; is Vayam Rakshamah (“We The “mission statements” of the protect”). • assistance to the Customs in Coast Guard, which derive from its The world’s coast guards normally anti-smuggling operations; Charter and its functions, are: • assistance to fishermen in deal with marine safety, maritime 1. Offshore security security, life saving, law distress at sea; 2. Marine environmental security • safeguarding life and property at sea; 3. Maritime zone security * This article is based on a presentation • preventing poaching in Indian 4. Marine safety made by Dr Prabhakaran Paleri at the waters; 5. Scientific assistance Third International Conference on Fishing Industry Safety and Health, • assisting in ocean research- 6. National defence Mahabalipuram, Chennai, related activities; To carry out its missions, the Coast 1-4 February 2006. • enforcing maritime law; Guard needs sufficient forces,

Bay of Bengal News - March 2006 23 personnel, expertise, authority, infrastructure and enforcement- friendly laws. Maritime Search and Rescue Maritime search and rescue entails searching for persons, ships or other craft that are feared to be in distress or imminent danger, and rescuing or helping them. It is one of the operational tasks covered under the mission statement “marine safety.” The mission statement reads: “Prevent death, injuries, fatalities and property loss associated with maritime activities at sea, and reach out to those in distress and traumatic situations at all times in all weather A search operation in progress conditions and ensure safety and • Offshore security: Fishers who security from natural or human ship to the scene of distress, and stray into high-security offshore induced disaster.” also keep track of a ship that is overdue or may need urgent exploration areas will face The Coast Guard has prepared a assistance. Participation in INDSAR problems and subsequent loss of National Maritime Search and is voluntary and free of cost. catch. Rescue Manual. The Coast Guard is • Marine environmental security: In addition to INDSAR, the Coast the coordinating authority in a relates to the effects of pollution Guard plans to introduce ISLEREP, mission of search and rescue which on fisheries resources and a system that may allow is terrain-specific, not victim- subsequent loss of fish catch. It communication with ships within 25 specific. The terrain comprises a also relates to the interaction of miles of island territories. It is a whopping 4.6 million sq km in the fishers with marine ecosystems. maritime domain around India. The VHF radio network system and mission is carried out with the help seeks to provide additional • Maritime zone security: relates of three maritime rescue navigational safety for ships as they to law enforcement. Fishers coordination centres (MRCC) based pass through or close to the islands. could be direct or indirect at Mumbai, Chennai and Port Blair. victims, or participants. The Indian Coast Guard and There are also rescue sub-centres • Marine safety: covers the entire Marine Fishers. functioning from Coast Guard spectrum of safety of life and district headquarters at Porbandar, The relationship of the Coast Guard property at sea. Fishers are a Marmagoa, New , , with the fisheries community is community that will require Vishakhapatnam, Paradeep, , defined by the mission statements. protection and assistance. Diglipur and Campbell Bay. These Bringing a fishing boat to safety centres function round the clock. Communication for search and rescue is provided through fixed communication networks such as GMDSS (global maritime distress safety system), ATS (air traffic services) channels, DSC (digital selective calling) and through INMARSAT (the international maritime satellite earth station);. The Coast Guard has been operating the ship reporting system INDSAR (Indian M-SAR computerised ship reporting system) since 1 February 2003. It is a voluntary toll-free reporting system that will assist the MRCCs to divert the most suitable

24 Bay of Bengal News - March 2006 • Scientific assistance: to provide friendly contacts related to public scientific support to ocean safety, and providing distress relief research activities including services including medical relief. fisheries research. These programmes have been appreciated by the community in Different types of fishers operate in territorial and close-to-territorial various coastal states and islands. waters. A few of them are slowly Conclusion venturing into deeper waters. Safety Though the Coast Guard has been is the paramount objective for a able to strike a chord with the fisher at sea. Record books of the fisheries community on safety Indian Coast Guard show that the The Indian Coast Guard has matters, much more needs to be problems experienced by fishers conducted 935 search and rescue done. Fishers in India are either with respect to safety at sea are: missions since its inception. It has traditional or follow a traditional (a) Individual vessel distress saved 3 549 lives at sea, including safety mindset even when they • Accident-breakdown, those of 914 fishers, through 590 operate larger vessels. capsizing, sinking, collision. missions. There have been 368 Mechanisation ensures speed • Cross border incident- incidents of alien firing at Indian through engines or outboard motors accidents, seizures, attacks. fishers since 1983. 100 fishers were in place of traditional oars which • Navigational errors. killed and 365 injured in the alien necessitated longer stay at sea, • Pirate attacks. attacks recorded so far. This is thereby increasing the probability of • Abductions. besides random apprehensions of distress. But on other aspects of • Tribal attacks. Indian fishers by bordering states safety – inspection of vessels, communication equipment, weather • Medical problems. while fishing across international boundaries. information through radio, life (b) Mass distress saving appliances, safety training, • Cyclones. Interaction with the Fisheries organised search and rescue efforts, • Tsunami. Community. coordination with the Coast Guard – • Seizures and attacks in alien The Coast Guard introduced awareness and action are low. A waters. community interaction programmes more proactive approach to safety by • Internal clashes. in August 1999 specifically to the Coast Guard, by fisheries interact with coastal communities administrations and by fisher Each of these situations has to be including fishers. These communities will improve safety handled separately. Action takes programmes have been only at sea. varied forms. partially successful, because of the Violations of the law by fishers can’t limitations imposed on the Coast To sum up, the Coast Guard plays a be ruled out. They have been Guard by other mandated duties. definite role in safety of life and involved in illegal fishing across The interaction with fishers aims at property of fishers in India. The borders, clashes, pirate attacks on inducing safety awareness among limitations lie in the disorganised merchant ships, smuggling, them, warning them when weather state of fishers in India with respect trafficking, etc. conditions deteriorate, making to safety – low awareness, poor compliance with safety procedures – Patrolling the high seas and also in the modest personnel size of the Indian Coast Guard relative to the tasks. But the Coast Guard has the will and determination to effectively carry out its missions, including that of enhancing the safety of fishers. References 1. Indian Coast Guard, INDSAR and ISLEREP (New Delhi), 6 October 2003. 2. National Search and Rescue Board, National Search and Rescue Manual (New Delhi), 22 April 2003.

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