216
S. Ramachandran
and Andaman and Nicobar islands - 1200 km 2 • Disposal of domestic and agricultural
wastes into coastal waters, poor landuse practices that include sedimentation of rivers
and then of reefs, and overexploitation of reef resources, often in combina tion with
practices such as harvesting with dynamite and poison - all are constantly degrading
the reefs (Ramachandran 1997).
11.3.4
Coastal Fisheries
India has 3 638 fishing villages and 2 251 fish landing centres. The total fishermen population is about 5.8 million (Ministry of Agriculture Government of Inidia 1995). The
total marine fish production is about 2.692 million t out of which nearly 50% come from
ne,lrshore waters and contributed by traditional fishermen. The major problems in
coastal fisheries are overfishing, habitat destruction and degradation, pollution, postharvest damages due to lack of infrastructure, fishing during monsoon, conflicts among
mechanized and traditional sectors, inter-state problems etc. In addition to these, fishing
communities also face competition from other resource users. For example, coastal
tourism interferes with traditional fishermen in their activities by replacing them and
denying access to their traditional fishing ground and beaches. Thus, the livelihood of
the fishermen is threatened.
11.3.5
Coastal Erosion
The coastal erosion is caused wave breaking, reduction in sediment input to coasts,
tectonic upheavals and rise in sea level. These causes are not only natural, but also,
due to human interference. In west coast, erosion is very severe along Kerala coast.
About 80% of the entire coastline of Kerala is affected by erosion (about 400 km out
of 530 km coast).'In Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra, there is no large scale erosion.
In Karnataka, about 73 km of the coastline is affected. Along east coast erosion occurs
in all the states, but only moderately. In Tamilnadu, about 80 km of the coastline is
affected. In Orissa, about 30-40 km are affected. In West Bengal, erosion occurs in
180 km along the coast line stretching from the confluence of the rive Hooghly in the
westto the confluence of the river Jadgan in the east. The rate of erosion is as high as
30 m a-l (Joshi 1995).
11.3.6
Conflicting Uses
In recent years, one of the conflicting uses that has caused greater concern in coastal
environment is the development of coastal aquaculture, especially the shrimp culture.
The unplanned development of coastal aquaculture and lack of scientific management
has significantly affected the agricultural lands and labourers in the two southern states,
namely Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu. The pumping of sea water into aquaculture
farms has resulted in the salinisation of soils and groundwater and the untreated
aquafarm discharges affected the coastal water quality and ecosystem characteristics.
The socio-economic impacts of development of aquaculture industry was studied by
S. Ramachandran
and Andaman and Nicobar islands - 1200 km 2 • Disposal of domestic and agricultural
wastes into coastal waters, poor landuse practices that include sedimentation of rivers
and then of reefs, and overexploitation of reef resources, often in combina tion with
practices such as harvesting with dynamite and poison - all are constantly degrading
the reefs (Ramachandran 1997).
11.3.4
Coastal Fisheries
India has 3 638 fishing villages and 2 251 fish landing centres. The total fishermen population is about 5.8 million (Ministry of Agriculture Government of Inidia 1995). The
total marine fish production is about 2.692 million t out of which nearly 50% come from
ne,lrshore waters and contributed by traditional fishermen. The major problems in
coastal fisheries are overfishing, habitat destruction and degradation, pollution, postharvest damages due to lack of infrastructure, fishing during monsoon, conflicts among
mechanized and traditional sectors, inter-state problems etc. In addition to these, fishing
communities also face competition from other resource users. For example, coastal
tourism interferes with traditional fishermen in their activities by replacing them and
denying access to their traditional fishing ground and beaches. Thus, the livelihood of
the fishermen is threatened.
11.3.5
Coastal Erosion
The coastal erosion is caused wave breaking, reduction in sediment input to coasts,
tectonic upheavals and rise in sea level. These causes are not only natural, but also,
due to human interference. In west coast, erosion is very severe along Kerala coast.
About 80% of the entire coastline of Kerala is affected by erosion (about 400 km out
of 530 km coast).'In Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra, there is no large scale erosion.
In Karnataka, about 73 km of the coastline is affected. Along east coast erosion occurs
in all the states, but only moderately. In Tamilnadu, about 80 km of the coastline is
affected. In Orissa, about 30-40 km are affected. In West Bengal, erosion occurs in
180 km along the coast line stretching from the confluence of the rive Hooghly in the
westto the confluence of the river Jadgan in the east. The rate of erosion is as high as
30 m a-l (Joshi 1995).
11.3.6
Conflicting Uses
In recent years, one of the conflicting uses that has caused greater concern in coastal
environment is the development of coastal aquaculture, especially the shrimp culture.
The unplanned development of coastal aquaculture and lack of scientific management
has significantly affected the agricultural lands and labourers in the two southern states,
namely Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu. The pumping of sea water into aquaculture
farms has resulted in the salinisation of soils and groundwater and the untreated
aquafarm discharges affected the coastal water quality and ecosystem characteristics.
The socio-economic impacts of development of aquaculture industry was studied by