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Andhra
Pradesh: Coastal
Aquaculture
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Coastal
Fisherfolk Putting
Out To Sea
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With a coast line of over 6000 kms, India has an estimated total
brackish water area of 1.2 million hectares (mha). The maximum area
is in West Bengal (0.4 mha) with Gujarat (0.37 mha) close behind.
Andhra Pradesh, with 0.15 mha, has a network of 172 brackish waterbodies
in 9 coastal districts. The total area under brackish water aquaculture
in the country is around 68,000 hectares (ha), of which Andhra Pradesh's
share is about 8,100 ha. Another additional 17,555 ha of Revenue,
Forest and private land is considered suitable for aquafarming.
The major aquaculture activities are confined to Visakhapatnam,
East Godavari, Prakasam and Nellore districts. The hatchery units
are located in coastal areas of Visakhapatnam district while the
farming units mostly along the creeks.
In
1980, the State Government issued guidelines for allotment of land
for aquafarming . The enterprising farmers in Kakinada, Bhimavaram
and Nellore areas developed aquaculture on their land. The annual
productivity of scientifically managed aquafarms range from 1000-2000
kg per hectare. Some aquafarmers in Nellore have achieved annual
production of 3-4 tonnes per hectare. The small farmers using traditional
methods are able to harvest on an average about 500 kg per hectare
annually. The Coastal Regulation Zone Notification stipulates that
no permanent structure is permissible within 200 meters of the high-tide
line and within 500 meters only semi-permanent structures are allowed.
But a number of hatcheries with masonry structures have been built
within the inter-tidal zones. In addition, processing and packing
plants have also been set up within this restricted area.
The
growing demand for seafood in developed countries gave momentum
to aquaculture in India. The prospect of immediate and considerable
financial gains spurred the proliferation of aquaculture farms.
The high investments with equally high profits attracted multinationals.
In the process, fertile agricultural land, wastelands and coastal
areas were converted into aquafarms. However, improper survey, inadequate
transfer of appropriate technology, and avariciousness of investors
led to a host of environmental problems as well as legal ones. The
gullible and vulnerable small farmers were induced to lease out
or sell their land to large investors. The dependence on under-qualified
technicians and experts resulted in unscientific aquafarming with
concomitant large-scale damage to coastal ecology.
The ecologically
sensitive areas in Andhra Pradesh, like mangroves (Korangi, Kakinada)
and estuaries (Nizampatnam, Krishna river), are gravely threatened
by aquafarming. Estuarine mangroves have been destroyed on a large
scale. The impounding of brackish and sea water in aquaculture ponds
have polluted the subsoil water making it unfit for human use. The
wastewater from aquaculture farms contain high concentration of
nutrients, toxic chemicals and antibiotics. Their discharge into
local water courses is destroying fish, which has adverse economic
effect on traditional fishermen. |
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Dr S RAMAKRISHNA RAO
Public
Health & Environmental Engineering Division
Department of Civil Engineering
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
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