Those who earn their living from the sea have been clamouring their unhappiness lately. The main issue of their protest turns around the marine works undertaken by the private or public sector, more especially in hotel and wastewater management projects. The fishermen have stressed on the “lack of consideration” the latter seem to have had for them.

After Taj Exotica Hotel in Wolmar, Voile d’Or Hotel in Bel Ombre has been wildly criticised by the local fishermen. They are protesting against the excavation works to create swimming zones where the water is not deep enough. Corals have been removed, they say, threatening their livelihood. The hotel management declares, for its part, it has made the environment impact studies and obtained the necessary permits. Not satisfied with these explanations, the Bel Ombre fishermen demonstrated last week and have threatened to take legal action.

The Paul et Virginie Hotel in Grand-Gaube also faces a conflict with the local fishermen. The hotel is encroaching on the beach and the lagoon, preventing the fishermen from earning their living, says Deolall Gunesh, the spokesperson of the Grand-Gaube fishermen. The management has, however, accepted to start negotiations.

In the same vein, the fishermen operating off Montagne Jacquot on the west coast had their boats seized by the National Coast Guard (NCG) after they had demonstrated against the excavation works by Belgian dredger, Jerommeke. These works are needed to build an outfall for the wastewater management project. They have served a “mise en demeure” to the prime minister, Paul Bérenger, the State and the commissioner of police. The dissatisfied fishermen have added they will lodge a “plaint with summons” as they consider their livelihood is in jeopardy.

Since they won’t be able to fish till the end of the dredging works in August 2005, they are claiming a Rs 200 000 compensation instead of the Rs 4,000 monthly allowance offered to them. Most fishermen’s protests have, in the past, been temporarily resolved by compensations. An attractive compensation was given to those of Baie-du-Tombeau after their fishing zone was filled up in 2000. However, this has proved ineffective as most of them have not succeeded in recycling into another activity.

The 90 fishermen of Montagne-Jacquot met the prime minister, Paul Bérenger, yesterday to find a solution. Another zone should temporarily be given to us, insists Judex Ramphul, their spokesperson. Their lawyer, Madan Dulloo, has assured that legal actions will be taken to enable them to continue their activities. “Such arrest, seizure and detention were illegal, in breach of the laws of the land… and in defiance of their human rights,” one can read in their complaint.

Worried about the after-effects of the various marine works in the lagoon, the fishermen have now asked for an environment impact study. There is no way we will be able to catch fish again off Montagne Jacquot coast for years, says Judex Ramphul.

<B>Poor working conditions</B>

Usually committed to their trade, even if it is precarious, the fishermen deplore the lack of consideration either from the authorities or their employers. The bank fishermen, for example, go regularly for a full month campaign near Saint- Brandon Island. This job has once more proved unsafe with three fishermen reported missing since 14th October. Their colleagues have, on many occasions, talked about their poor working conditions. This uncertain future could explain the general uneasiness and discontent of the fishermen. Even if it is in the country’s economic interest, one should not discard the important role of those small operators.