Client : Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Tamilnadu Project : Fish Landing Centre at Nagore CHAPTER ‐ 3.0 BASELINE ENVIRONMENT 3.1 Introduction Nagorepattinacherry fishing village is located in Nagapattinam taluk of Nagapattinam district in Central region of Tamil Nadu and is situate at approximately 7 km from Nagapattinam town. Nagorepattinacherry is one of the 51 marine fishing villages in Nagapattinam district with a total population of 4,307 comprising 2,201 male and 2,106 female residing in 1,140 households as per the Marine Fisheries Census 2005 conducted by Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) under a Programme on strengthening of data base and information networking for Indian fisheries sector. At present the fishermen are landing their catches from motorised boats and non‐motorised boats on the open beach in unhygienic manner while trawlers of the village are operating at Nagapattinam. Sufficient back up area is available at the fishing centre to undertake shore based facilities. Electricity and approach road is also available and it is just about a km from the Nagore Bridge located in Nagore town on Nagore – Karaikal road. The fishing village Nagorepattinacherry is located on the right side of road while landing centre is on the other side road. According to the fishermen of Nagore, there are 200 motorised 11 metre boats comprising 150 numbers of Keela Pattinacherry and 50 numbers of Mela Pattinacherry. Nagore is one of the important fishing centres in the state. Fisheries records indicate a substantial fish catch in this area resulting in increased revenue for the fisher folk. Economic growth of the fishing community is very much dependent on the hygienic condition of the environment. Presently there is no landing facility at Nagore, which leads to the poor aesthetic environment. 3.2 Background Data of Nagore 3.2.1 Berthing Facilities There are no immediate landing / berthing facilities for vessels in the vicinity. The nearest fishing harbour is at Nagapattinam which is around 7 km away. Mahindra Consulting Engineers Limited III - 1 Client : Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Tamilnadu Project : Fish Landing Centre at Nagore All the boats were now berthed in the bank of the Vettar River which needs to be dredged for safe movement of the boats. At present there exists no wharf which is essential for safe berthing at the bank of Vettar River. 3.2.2 Ecological Status at the Project Location While significant fish catch is reported from the Nagapattinam coastal area, there are no reports for the presence of ecologically sensitive habitats like coral reefs, sea grass beds etc.,. The following Table No.3.1 details about the species wise marine fish production for the year 2005 – 2006. Table‐3.1 Species‐wise Marine Fish Production at Nagore for the year 2007‐2008 Sl.No. Name of the Species Quantity in Tonnes per 1 Shark 29.37 2 Skates and rays 24.79 3 Eels 62.01 4 Cat fishes 51.77 5 Chirocentrus 222.19 6 Oil sardines 0.00 7 Lesser Sardines 131.38 8 Hilsa Ilisha 1.53 9 O.Illisha 0.03 10 Anchoveilla 76.14 11 Thrissocles 127.64 12 Cluepeids 153.76 13 Saurida&Saurus 0.05 14 Hemirhamphus & Belon 0.03 15 Flying Fish 1.13 16 Perches 56.15 17 Red Mullets 14.04 18 Polynemids 6.12 19 Sciuaendis 8.63 Mahindra Consulting Engineers Limited III - 2 Client : Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Tamilnadu Project : Fish Landing Centre at Nagore Sl.No. Name of the Species Quantity in Tonnes per 20 Ribbon Fish 0.03 21 Caranx 23.88 22 Chironermus 4.96 23 Trachynotus 1.96 24 Other Carangids 0.00 25 Elacate 1.83 26 Silverbellies 85.02 27 Lactarius 0.01 28 Pornfrets 8.02 29 Mackerel 124.61 30 Seerfish 27.46 31 Tunnies 15.13 32 Sphyreana 0.07 33 Mullets 3.89 34 Bregmcres 16.19 35 Soles 0.06 36 Penaeid Prawns 295.10 37 N.P. Prawns 0.00 38 Lobsters 0.56 39 Crabs 88.27 40 Cephalopods 35.00 41 Miscellaneous 281.21 42 Draphone 0.01 43 Lithrinus 6.23 44 Sillago 13.73 45 Balsisters 0.00 46 Ora 0.00 Total 2000.00 Source : Department of Fisheries, Government of Tamil Nadu (Secondary data) The area is found to be highly productive with good representation of fish eggs, larvae etc, thus indicating the high fish productivity. Mahindra Consulting Engineers Limited III - 3 Client : Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Tamilnadu Project : Fish Landing Centre at Nagore 3.2.3 Demographic Data Demographic data in this village shows 310 households exist. Almost for all the people in these households, fishing and its allied activity is the only source of income. The demographic data as per 2001 census is given below in Table 3.2 Table‐3.2 2 Demographic Data as per Census 2001 NAGORE (KOTTAGAM) – RURAL Parameter Total Male Female Percentage Sex Ratio Population 1530 797 733 100 920 Population (0‐6) 166 86 80 12.17 930 Scheduled Castes 494 232 262 32.29 1129 Scheduled Tribes 0 0 0 0 0 Literates 1152 654 498 84.46 761 Illiterates 378 143 235 15.54 1643 Workers 576 397 179 37.65 451 Main Workers 432 389 43 28.24 111 Main Cultivators 20 19 1 4.63 53 Main Agricultural 180 166 14 41.67 922 labourers Main Workers in 1 1 0 0.23 0 household industries Main Other Workers 231 203 28 53.47 438 Marginal Workers 144 8 136 9.41 1500 Marginal Cultivators 1 0 1 0.69 Marginal Agricultural labourers 143 8 135 99.31 16875 Marginal Workers in 0 0 0 0 0 Household industries Marginal Other 0 0 0 954 400 Mahindra Consulting Engineers Limited III - 4 Client : Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Tamilnadu Project : Fish Landing Centre at Nagore Parameter Total Male Female Percentage Sex Ratio Workers Non Workers 554 62.35 1385 Households 310 Source: Census 2001, TamilNadu. 3.2.4 Fisheries According to the statistical information provided by the Department of Fisheries, Government of TamilNadu, the total annual fish catch in the districts of Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur and Thanjavur accounts to 80900.14 Tonnes (2005‐2006) contributing to 20.76 % to the state marine fisheries production. The details are given below. Table ‐3.3 3 Month wise fish production for the year 2005 – 2006 Fish Production in Total Fish Production in S. No Month Tonnes Tamil Nadu (Tonnes) 1 April 6575.24 33174.73 2 May 6410.12 31811.64 3 June 7855.52 36974.73 4 July 7442.46 36589.96 5 August 7477.17 36377.65 6 September 6940.80 33016.34 7 October 6697.97 30662.66 8 November 4729.03 22902.23 9 December 5721.78 27303.37 10 January 6733.14 32540.81 11 February 6949.86 32931.06 12 March 7367.05 35428.41 Total 80900.14 389713.59 Source : Department of Fisheries, Government of Tamil Nadu (Secondary data) Mahindra Consulting Engineers Limited III - 5 Client : Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Tamilnadu Project : Fish Landing Centre at Nagore Table‐3.44 Craft wise fish production for the year 2005 – 2006 Type of Craft Quantity in Tonnes Mechanized Vessels 58533.37 Non – Mechanized Vessels 2722.49 Motorized Vessels 19644.27 Shore Seine 0.00 TOTAL 80900.13 Source : Department of Fisheries, Government of Tamil Nadu (Secondary data) Table 3.5 ANNUAL LANDINGS at Nagore Description 2005 2006 2007 2008 / year Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value (T) (Lakhs) (T) Lakhs (T) Lakhs (T) Lakhs PRAWNS ‐ Class 1 144 302.4 150 315 156 327.6 160 336 ‐ Class 2 180 288 187.5 300 195 312 200 320 ‐ Class 3 216 172.8 225 180 234 187.2 240 192 sub ‐ total 540 763.2 562.5 795 585 826.8 600 848 FISH ‐ Class 1 180 90 187.5 93.75 195 97.5 200 100 ‐ Class 2 360 72 375 75 390 78 400 80 ‐ Class 3 720 72 750 75 780 78 800 80 sub ‐ total 1260 234 1312.5 243.75 1365 253.5 1400 260 Total 1800 997.2 1875 1038.8 1950 1080.3 2000 1108 Source : Department of Fisheries, Government of Tamil Nadu (Secondary data) 3.2.5 Shore Based Facilities All the shore based facilities like Auction hall, Net Mending Shed, Sanitary / Toilet Facility, Approach & Internal Roads, Water Supply, Electric Supply & Lighting, were not available in Mahindra Consulting Engineers Limited III - 6 Client : Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Tamilnadu Project : Fish Landing Centre at Nagore Nagore and hence the above mentioned items have to be developed for the betterment of the fishing community. 3.2.6 Climate and Meteorology Climatologically and meteorological factors play an important role in the dispersion and dilution of pollutants into the atmosphere and their impact on air environment. As a part of this EIA study, Meteorological parameters were obtained from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The nearest existing meteorological station maintained by Indian Meteorological department (IMD) is situated at Nagapattinam which is closer to the project site, and hence deemed representative of the study area. The station was found to be well manned, and equipped with Thermometer, Barometer, Rain‐gauge and Wind Monitor. Available past records for 5‐years (May2002‐April 2007) were obtained from this IMD station regarding the meteorological features of the site and are summarized. 3.2.6.1 Temperature: The district is situated in tropical wet and dry region. Nagore has been experiencing the hot climate in summers with humidity and pleasant climate in winters. ¾ Summer season: Summer season starting from March and ended at May.