SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM AND THE FISHERMEN COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN INDIA: A BRIEF REVIEW

The diverse group of water dependant habitats of the aquatic ecosystem play pivotal role for the survival and growth of most of the biological organisms of the earth and also provide largest share of all ecological services. The degradation of the aquatic ecosystem due to anthropogenic activities and climate change in recent times is a matter of great concern for the sustenance of global biodiversity. The concept of sustainability in aquatic ecosystem is a compelling necessity now. India is endowed with huge aquatic resources with vast coastline and continental shelf, long rivers and canals, many reservoirs, ponds, tanks, beels, oxbow lakes, derelict water bodies and brackish waters. The livelihood of millions of people, particularly larger section of economically underprivileged fishermen population of the country, depends on these aquatic resources in terms of fishery and other activities. Fishermen Cooperative Societies (FCS) have been formed in this country to provide institutional support to these poor fishermen. This paper analyses the importance of the aquatic ecosystem, aquatic resources of India and the need for their sustainable management involving fishermen cooperative societies. The meaning and concept of fishermen cooperative societies, their organization structure and functions have been discussed. The paper summarizes the findings of the recent studies on the role of Fishermen Cooperative Societies in India with respect to the fish production & management, maintenance and conservation of the aquatic ecosystems. The study revealed that there were regional imbalances, many prospects as well as many constraints regarding the functioning of fishermen cooperative societies in India. It has been found that the potential role of Fishermen Cooperative Societies in the sustainable management of both marine and freshwater aquatic ecosystems in India has largely been overlooked. The need for suitable policy implications in India for the better utilization of fishermen cooperative societies for sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems with respect to the environmental pollution and climate change has also been discussed.