Impact of the Tsunami and the Sethusamudram project

The survival of the small scale fisher folk in the aftermath of the tsunami, and in the implementation of the Sethusamudram project

The Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project proposes creating a navigable route between India and Sri Lanka, linking the Palk Strait with the Gulf of Mannar, to be achieved by excavating and dredging a 80km channel through the shallow sea bed. The canal would reduce the distance between the east and west coasts of India, saving the time taken for ships to circumnavigate Sri Lanka. However, the project is opposed by many in Sri Lanka, concerned about the impact upon the environment and the livelihoods of fisherfolk.
Fisher folk from Asia were the worst hit by the tsunami. They lost not only loved ones, livelihoods, homes and boats and fishing gear but also the resource base – mangrove swamps, coral reefs, and coastal fish breeding grounds that supported their livelihoods. According to many experts it is likely that if the Sethusamudram Project is implemented it could lead to further marginalisation of the fisher folk.

A workshop was organized by ITDGPractical Action South Asia for the development organizations working in this sector and journalists with the aim of communicating the information to fisher communities and ongoing policy dialogues on the likely implications of the Sethusamudram Project and the Rebuilding Programme for the fisheries sector which will direct future fishing industry in Sri Lanka.

The workshop on the impact of the tsunami, and the Sethusamudram project, on small scale fishery industry and coastal resources was held at the andaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall on the 12th of August 2005 with the participation of many interested groups. Among the participants were representatives from Community based organisations, lobby groups campaigning on the rights of fisher folk, media, Coastal Conservation Department, Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN), FAO etc.

The presentations and discussions that followed generated many important suggestions and recommendations on the rebuilding work and the Sethusamudram project. The presentations by the panel of scientists and activists were on

  • The impact of the tsunami on small scale fishery industry in Sri Lanka by Tinil Fernando from the National Aquatic Resources Research & Development Agency view presentation (373k)
  • Impact of the tsunami on coastal resources – a case from Sri Lanka by Dr. Ruchira Cumarathunga from the  University of Ruhuna
  • Impacts of the Sethusamudram project on coastal resources and fisheries sector by Turney Pradeep Kumara from the University of Ruhuna
  • Role of fisher communities and other stakeholders in rebuilding the fisheries sector by Herman Kumara from the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement
  • Rebuilding lives and livelihoods of small-scale fishing communities in the post-tsunami context  by ITDGPractical Action view presentation (118k)
  • Trends and future directions of the fishery sector in the post tsunami rebuilding process by Patrick Mulvany, ITDGPractical Action UK. view presentation (434k)
The fisheries sector provides considerable number of direct and indirect employment opportunities to nearly one million household dependants. In 2003 the sector obtained foreign exchange worth Rs. 9.5 billion through marine product exports. Its contribution to the country's GDP was estimated at 2.6%. However with the tsunami this sector suffered severe losses. The death toll of fishermen was 5,006, around 32,989 houses of fishermen were affected by the tsunami and 24,572 were destroyed and around 17,157 of the marine fishing crafts were either destroyed or 4,241 damaged. According to Tinil Fernando from the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency the total loss in fish production would be around 86,000 tons in 2005, and the country's foreign exchange earnings from fish exports will be lowered by a third as a result of non-availability of fish for export. view presentation (373k)

The natural coastal habitats (coral reef, estuaries, lagoons, mangroves, salt marshes and sand dunes) are immensly productive, essential for national growth and a rich reservoir of genetic resources and bio diversity. However, as a result of the tsunami the fragile corals had been damaged by vigarous water and coral rubble movement and the entanglements of gill nets and clothing. Turney Pradeep Kumara from the Department of Fisheries Biology at the University of Ruhuna stated that having a buffer zone, a green belt and involvement of coastal communities for conservation measures such as clean up of beach areas, mangroves and reefs, and eco tourism measures such as artifical reefs and wrecks are necessary strategies for coastal zone management.

Dr. Ruchira Cumaratunga from the University of Ruhuna, who is also on the committee from Sri Lanka on the Sethusamudram project, explained in detail the impacts of the Sethusamudram Project on coastal resources and the small-scale fishery industry. Due to the civil war that prevailed in the country no proper study has been carried out on the ecology and bio diversity on coastal areas for the past two decades. The Sethusamudram project could affect most important ecosystems, coral reefs – dredging the canal will stir up the dust and toxins that lie beneath the sea bed and will adversely affect the population of corals. Further, an upsurge of coastal currents due to the Sethusamudram project can lead to higher tides and to more energetic waves, and hence to coastal erosion. As a result harbours and coastal structures which have been built with designs based on present ocean dynamics may become vulnerable. In addition the changes of ecology and the food chain have an effect on the fish population, which can in turn affect the lives of the hundreds of thousands of fisher folk in the area. There could be also an ecological imbalance in coastal ecosystems due to invasive species being dispersed into the relatively protected areas within Palk Bay and Mannar Bay when the bilge water (ballast water) of ships sailing through the Canal is released in to this area.

Dr.Cumaratunga concluded her presentation with the comment that "considering the seriousness of the possible impacts of the Setusamudram canal project on the sensitive ecosystems, biodiversity and physical and chemical properties of coastal aquatic and terrestrial environments, a thorough assessment of possible impacts of this project should be carried out before commencing the project. This assessment should be a joint project of Sri Lanka and India."

Upon presenting the views on the role of fisher communities and their organisations in rebuilding the small scale fisheries sector, Herman Kumara from the National Fisheries Solidarity posed the question – "How many scholars, governmental departments and fisher folk were involved in developing the post-tsunami recovery plan for the fisheries sector?"

Patrick Mulvany of ITDGPractical Action, a strong international activist and campaigner for the rights of the small scale farmers and artisanal fisher folk, stated that although the largest humanitarian response ever was generated by the tsunami, fisher folk could anticipate worse conditions. This is mainly due to organisations and institutions of the fisher folk in many cases being decisively weakened not only by the disaster itself, but also by people and institutions, who take advantage of the disaster to further their own interests.

Speaking further on the rights of artisinal fisher folk Patrick stated that "as NGOs and other organisations that work in support of peasant and fisherfolk organisations and communities, we need to commit ourselves to support the defence of labour-intensive, beach-based fisheries, as well as the monitoring of relief and reconstruction efforts, raise awareness and campaign against dumping of discarded fishing vessels from industrialised countries in tsunami-affected areas and strengthen local government authority level organisations. The future of fishing, provision of fish and the conservation of the coastal areas depend on the survival of small-scale coastal beach-based fisheries." view presentation (434k)

Some of the recommendations proposed by the participants of the seminar were that the committee from Sri Lanka on studying the impacts of the Sethusamudram project should involve a relevant national or international agency to study the impacts of the Sethusamudram project and to work closely with local organisations involved in the fisheries sector to obtain their recommendations to the process. A direct outcome of this workshop was TAFREN (Task Force for Rebuilding) inviting ITDGPractical Action and other key participants for a meeting to discuss further the recommendations and suggestions generated as per the request of participants of the workshop.

Background
The impact of the tsunami, and the Sethusamudram project, on small scale fishery industry and coastal resources.

The Tsunami has shown that oceans although within territorial waters of certain nations belong to the whole world or region. The coastal inhabitants from India and Sri Lanka suffered equally from the Tsunami. Apart from being displaced and deprived from their livelihoods, the fisher folk also have to battle with the negative environmental conditions resulted from the tsunami.

According to a research by a team of scientists from Central Industrial Research Institute about 40 million tonnes of Titanium had been deposited in the whole 500km stretch of the coastline that was hit by the tsunami. Further, independent surveys conducted at Kodiakkarai in India in January had revealed that the sea is now half its depth than it was before tsunami.

These studies continue to highlight the negative impacts to the coastal and marine resources from the tsunami. However, despite the constant reminders about the negative impacts on the coastal and marine resources that has already occurred from the tsunami, and the many protests from political leaders, environmentalists and media the Government of India (GoI) has cleared Sethusamudaram Project (SSCP).

The Sunday Observer (July 10, 2005) reported that fishermen from Pesalai and Talaimannar in Mannar district had complained to North East Governor Tyronne Fernando that, "deepening of the Palk Straits under the Sethusamudram Canal project would destroy the breeding ground of fish in the sea territory close to Mannar shore." Environmentalists too express the view that the project could destroy the coral reef in the area that is home to more than 700 fish varieties. A report by the Environmental Foundation expresses the view that Sethusamudram Project is potentially damaging to the environment and could seriously affect Sri Lanka; and sought that a proper study is needed and demanded that all stakeholders, on both sides of the Palk Straits, be consulted in the course of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.

We understand that media has an important role to play in keeping the general public informed, and getting the views of the fisher folk and coastal residents across to policy dialogues on Sethusamudram. Therefore, we feel that it is of paramount importance for us to understand the environmental, social and economic implications of the project.

With the aim of involving media and development workers to communicate, and to feed the information to fisher communities and ongoing policy dialogues which will direct future fishing industry in Sri Lanka, ITDGPractical Action organised a workshop on the Impact of the tsunami and the Sethusamudram, on small scale fishery industry and coastal resources on August 12, 2005 at the Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall.

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