I should mention that Guy was the very first person to support the Goenchi Mati Manifesto with the memorable quote "simple, feasible and enlightened". So Goa has a lot to thank him for.
Rahul On Tue, Jun 9, 2020, 12:10 PM Guy Standing <guystand...@standingnet.com> wrote: > Rahul, > > Thanks for doing that. > > Aaron: If you have another article that illustrates the need to preserve > what might be called 'the oyster commons', please send it. > > Guy > > *Dr Guy Standing FAcSS* > *Professorial Research Associate* > *SOAS U**niversity of London* > > > *Hon.Co-President, Basic Income Earth Network > <https://basicincome.org>(BIEN)* > > *Indian basic income pilot video > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvErJvuWrWc>* > > *Why everyone deserves a basic income video > <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3edptV9C4ko>* > > > *Mob: +41 (0)79 647 6379* > > *Email: guystand...@standingnet.com <guystand...@standingnet.com>* > > *Website: www.guystanding.com <http://www.guystanding.com/>* > > *Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThePrecariat > <http://www.facebook.com/ThePrecariat>* > > *Latest books: Battling Eight Giants: Basic Income Now > <https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/battling-eight-giants-9780755600656/> > (Bloomsbury, 2020); Plunder of the Commons: A Manifesto for Sharing Public > Wealth > <https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/308/308407/plunder-of-the-commons/9780141990620.html> > (Penguin, 2019); *Basic Income: And How We Can Make It Happen > <https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/304706/basic-income/> (Penguin, 2017); *The > Corruption of Capitalism: Why Rentiers Thrive and Work Does Not Pay > <https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/the-corruption-of-capitalism> > (Biteback, 2016) * > > > > > On Tue, 9 Jun 2020 at 08:30, Rahul Basu <rahulba...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> I've copied Aaron and Frederick, and taken the entire Goanet list from >> the chain. >> >> Aaron has written a few pieces earlier, as evocative. >> >> Rahul >> Today is the first day of the rest of your life ! >> >> >> On Tue, Jun 9, 2020 at 11:47 AM Guy Standing <guystand...@standingnet.com> >> wrote: >> >>> Dear Frederick, >>> >>> This is a brilliant article. Please congratulate the author. We will be >>> citing it in our book on the blue commons. >>> >>> Embedded in the analysis are some powerful lessons for the revival of >>> the blue commons. >>> >>> Go well. Guy Standing >>> >>> *Dr Guy Standing FAcSS* >>> *Professorial Research Associate* >>> *SOAS U**niversity of London* >>> >>> >>> *Hon.Co-President, Basic Income Earth Network >>> <https://basicincome.org>(BIEN)* >>> >>> *Indian basic income pilot video >>> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvErJvuWrWc>* >>> >>> *Why everyone deserves a basic income video >>> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3edptV9C4ko>* >>> >>> >>> *Mob: +41 (0)79 647 6379* >>> >>> *Email: guystand...@standingnet.com <guystand...@standingnet.com>* >>> >>> *Website: www.guystanding.com <http://www.guystanding.com/>* >>> >>> *Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThePrecariat >>> <http://www.facebook.com/ThePrecariat>* >>> >>> *Latest books: Battling Eight Giants: Basic Income Now >>> <https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/battling-eight-giants-9780755600656/> >>> (Bloomsbury, 2020); Plunder of the Commons: A Manifesto for Sharing Public >>> Wealth >>> <https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/308/308407/plunder-of-the-commons/9780141990620.html> >>> (Penguin, 2019); *Basic Income: And How We Can Make It Happen >>> <https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/304706/basic-income/> (Penguin, 2017); *The >>> Corruption of Capitalism: Why Rentiers Thrive and Work Does Not Pay >>> <https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/the-corruption-of-capitalism> >>> (Biteback, 2016) * >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Mon, 8 Jun 2020 at 22:05, Goanet Reader <goanetrea...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> The Unwritten Rules of Oyster Fishing >>>> >>>> By Aaron Lobo aaronlob...@gmail.com >>>> WhatsApp +91 +91 83089 39019 >>>> >>>> For World Ocean Day, Aaron >>>> Savio Lobo studies the >>>> fascinating rules of oyster >>>> fishing, and the surprising >>>> role they play in creating a >>>> more sustainable future. >>>> >>>> If there is one thing the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed, it >>>> is our heavy reliance on the global food network and the ease >>>> with which it can break down. It has also given us the >>>> opportunity to reflect on how our food is produced, and the >>>> cost (most often hidden) of its production. >>>> >>>> This is particularly true for the seafood sector which has >>>> been globally marred by overfishing, human-rights violations >>>> and the wanton destruction of marine ecosystems. Sourcing >>>> locally has never been more important than it is today. >>>> However, most of our local, traditional food systems will >>>> struggle to meet the demand if not adequately strengthened >>>> and incentivised. >>>> >>>> Summers in Goa are typically shellfish months -- a >>>> time to enjoy the diversity of clam, mussels and >>>> oysters, grown and matured to full size. As May >>>> heats up and urraq (the lighter and fruitier >>>> version of cashew feni) drinking is at its peak, I >>>> especially look forward to eating calvam (oysters) >>>> and shinaneo (green mussels). I must confess that >>>> while I love the Goan style-rawa fried shinaneo I >>>> am not a huge fan of Goan oyster bhaaji, which I >>>> find to be overpowered by xacuti masala. I resort >>>> to cooking oysters myself. >>>> >>>> Both oysters and mussels are available in plenty at the >>>> numerous fish markets in the state during this season, but I >>>> prefer to go straight to the source -- Pradip's home along the >>>> Nerul creek. Pradip and his family have been harvesting >>>> oysters for years now, and usually sell them at the Nerul >>>> market, or near the bridge. >>>> >>>> PHOTO: Freshly shucked plump Brackish river oysters >>>> >>>> HARVESTING OYSTERS >>>> >>>> In Goa, while both men and women are involved in harvesting >>>> oysters, there is typically a difference in the way they do >>>> it. Women can be seen chipping for hooded oysters >>>> (Saccostrea cucullata) with their sickles, on the exposed >>>> rocky rubble at low tide; while the men paddle out in their >>>> canoes with long bamboo poles, into the deeper waters of the >>>> creek, inhabited by the large Brackish water oyster >>>> (Magallana bilineata). >>>> >>>> They then push their poles into the creek's soft floor, which >>>> supports them as they lower themselves several feet below, to >>>> the bottom of the creek. Here, they sift through the soft >>>> sediments with their hands, emerging every couple of minutes >>>> with one or two large oysters. >>>> >>>> They use gloves to protect themselves from the razor-sharp >>>> oyster shells, which are often further encrusted with other >>>> oysters and barnacles. To make sure the oysters are alive >>>> and full, they tap the shell on the sides of their canoes. A >>>> hollow sound indicates they are dead and empty -- therefore, >>>> to be discarded. >>>> >>>> They do occasionally bring up entire rocks -- an >>>> oyster cluster! And if they get lucky, discarded >>>> car tyres encrusted with 20 or more large oysters. >>>> Paradoxically, this trash also serves as a >>>> substrate onto which the oyster larvae attach >>>> themselves and grow. >>>> >>>> Many of Goa's oyster collectors live in clustered hamlets of >>>> brightly coloured houses along the banks of creeks and >>>> backwaters. While men and women are both involved in the >>>> collecting, it is generally the women that do the shucking >>>> (removal of the oyster meat from the shell), cleaning and >>>> discarding the shells just outside their homes, along the >>>> banks of these creeks. >>>> >>>> During the summer months, piles of oyster shells are a >>>> characteristic installation outside the homes of many of >>>> these creek fishers, exposed at low tide. The tides later >>>> disperse these empty shells back into the creek, where they >>>> become an extremely important substrate onto which >>>> free-swimming oyster larvae attach themselves, at which >>>> stage, they are called 'spat'. >>>> >>>> Some of the large shells and oyster rock clusters >>>> are known as 'mother shells' (Calvam Hadde in >>>> Konkani, or Corpam for oyster shells). They are >>>> critically important as they provide a larger >>>> surface area onto which young oyster larvae can >>>> attach and grow. As a rule, Goa's oyster fishers >>>> would shuck these mother shells while they were out >>>> collecting in their canoes, or as soon as they got >>>> back to shore, to return the mother shells to the >>>> environment. This helps sustain future production >>>> of oysters in the area. >>>> >>>> However today, it is not just the people who live along the >>>> creek that harvest oysters. Being a tourist state, oysters >>>> and mussels are in very high demand, bringing collectors from >>>> other parts of Goa in large numbers, to these oyster-rich >>>> areas. >>>> >>>> A large part of the problem is that they take more than just >>>> oysters. These tidal flats and the shellfish they support >>>> are open access resources, which means anyone can harvest as >>>> much as they want -- a common problem faced in coastal and >>>> marine spaces that leads to overexploitation. >>>> >>>> To make transport easy, these collectors gather entire rocks, >>>> complete with mother shells and all, which they then fill >>>> into empty cement bags, transporting them back to their >>>> respective villages, often in the hinterland with no access >>>> to a creek or backwater. >>>> >>>> These missing dead shells would have performed yet another >>>> important function. Built of calcium carbonate, the alkali >>>> slowly leeches into the water, neutralising the acid levels >>>> in the estuary. This is extremely important as acids in the >>>> water can dissolve the shells of crustaceans and molluscs >>>> (snails, clams and oysters) exposing them to the elements and >>>> making them vulnerable to predators. Who would have imagined >>>> the removal of oyster shells could be linked to a decline in >>>> oyster production world over? >>>> >>>> For the same reason, reintroducing oyster shells >>>> (shell planting) is a common method used to restore >>>> degraded oyster beds. However today, our oceans >>>> are becoming so acidic that even this practice is >>>> not enough to restore balance. >>>> >>>> Ocean Acidification is the result of increasing levels of CO2 >>>> in the atmosphere, primarily linked to the burning of fossil >>>> fuels, which then dissolves in seawater. This acidification >>>> threatens the lives of many of our seafood favourites >>>> including lobster, crab, shrimp, oysters, clam and others -- >>>> basically everything that has a shell. We now need these >>>> shell resources in our oceans more than ever before. >>>> >>>> PHOTO: Men duck dive for the large Brackish water oysters in >>>> the Nerul creek >>>> >>>> A SUSTAINABLE CHOICE >>>> >>>> Oysters collected and farmed the right way are a very >>>> sustainable seafood option. They are lower down the food >>>> chain and their populations can recover well, even after a >>>> heavy collection, if allowed sufficient time. >>>> >>>> They also make good candidates for aquaculture. >>>> They are filter feeders, which means they obtain >>>> their food by sucking in large quantities of water >>>> through their gills; algae and plankton suspended >>>> in the water get trapped in their gill mucous, and >>>> ultimately make their way into the digestive tract. >>>> >>>> Simply put, farmed oysters do not need to be fed, and can be >>>> a low-cost enterprise. In contrast to this, the species >>>> commonly farmed in India, such as shrimp and Asian sea bass, >>>> have very high feed requirements. To grow a kilogram of >>>> Asian sea bass you would require 6-7 kilograms of fish feed. >>>> >>>> Fish for this feed comes from ecologically >>>> destructive trawl fisheries, and constitutes the >>>> low-value species in the catch called 'trash fish'. >>>> My research into this subject has found that >>>> although 'trash fish' may not have high commercial >>>> value, it constitutes a vast diversity of species >>>> including juveniles of commercially important >>>> species that are an important source of protein for >>>> millions of poor coastal communities in India. >>>> Aquaculture is currently being celebrated as the >>>> solution to our future food requirements, and to >>>> the overfishing crises. However, you don't need to >>>> be a scientist to know that farming fish such as >>>> sea bass, using current methods, is certainly not >>>> the smart way forward. >>>> >>>> Whether it's oysters, mussels or clams, it seems that Goa >>>> cannot keep pace with growing demands. Today, a large >>>> proportion of mussels and clams consumed in the state's >>>> restaurants and beach shacks have actually been brought in >>>> from other states. >>>> >>>> CHICALIM, AND THE FIGHT TO RECLAIM GOA'S OYSTER BAY >>>> >>>> The large expansive bays of Sancoale and Chicalim along the >>>> Zuari river are among Goa's shellfish hotspots. It almost >>>> feels like the human relationship with this ecosystem has >>>> remained unchanged for centuries; stake-nets still necklace >>>> the mouths of these bays. >>>> >>>> In the summer, large numbers of people can be seen >>>> collecting clams and oysters here. It is also one >>>> of the few remaining habitats in Goa where you can >>>> find window-pane oysters, whose shells continue to >>>> adorn the windows of many Goan homes. >>>> Unfortunately, this year's hot summer, coupled with >>>> low spring tides, left the extensive tidal flats >>>> and their oyster rocks exposed. People stuck at >>>> home during the lockdown, from several villages >>>> surrounding the bay, descended in hordes onto these >>>> flats, stripping them of oysters. Rather than >>>> leaving the mother shells behind, they carried away >>>> sack loads of oysters shells. This was much to the >>>> consternation of locals who feared for the future >>>> of the oysters, and the bay's health in general. >>>> >>>> PHOTO: Oyster-encrusted rocks and a lone mangrove exposed at >>>> low tide in Pallolem >>>> >>>> However, it would be unfair to attribute the decline of the >>>> bay and the demise of oyster fisheries to over-harvesting >>>> alone. Unused iron ore barges are anchored at various parts >>>> along this river stretch. Exposed to the forces of nature, >>>> they lie in a state of decay, leaching pollutants into the >>>> estuary. >>>> >>>> The degradation of these bays will not only affect bivalve >>>> habitats, but also species that use these sheltered areas as >>>> feeding grounds and nurseries. Destruction of these >>>> important estuarine habitats can ultimately translate to the >>>> decline in quantity and quality of some of Goa's favourite >>>> seafood. >>>> >>>> The brackish water oysters can live for several >>>> years, and both the live oysters and their shells >>>> are extremely important to the creek's health. The >>>> high densities of molluscs found here perform a >>>> massively undervalued service to Goa, which is >>>> filtering the estuary of its pollutants and toxic >>>> algal blooms (which happens when there are high >>>> levels of domestic sewage in the water). These >>>> blooms deplete the oxygen in the waters, and can >>>> cause massive fish die-offs, threatening local >>>> fisheries. >>>> >>>> The villagers of Chicalim and Sancoale have taken it upon >>>> themselves to save their bay. For the first time this May, >>>> several locals concerned about their bay's future went about >>>> planting Calvam haddes. To stabilise these mother shells, >>>> they covered them with nets, and monitor them regularly. We >>>> still have a long way to go, but the current pandemic has >>>> opened our eyes to the need to strengthen local food systems. >>>> Much like the local shellfish food-chain, all local >>>> production of foods needs to be analysed in a similar manner >>>> to increase the resilience of supplies. >>>> >>>> So what is my alternative to Goa's oyster bhaaji? >>>> >>>> I reserve a batch of handpicked Nerul oysters, and use a >>>> straightforward, delicious Thai recipe I learnt from my >>>> uncle, Peter Estibeiro, who loves Thailand (and its oysters) >>>> as much as I do. First, make sure your oven grill is hot (or >>>> you can use a pan if you don't have a grill). For sauce, >>>> chop up a few birds' eye chillies, onions and coriander, to >>>> which you then add fish sauce and lime juice in equal parts. >>>> Bake or lightly pan-fry the oysters for under five minutes, >>>> to prevent them from turning chewy. Drizzle with sauce, and >>>> serve. Peter recommends having a batch crispy-fried burnt >>>> garlic on hand, to sprinkle on just before eating. >>>> --------------------------------------- >>>> Aaron Savio Lobo is a marine conservation scientist, and a >>>> member of the IUCN SSC Marine Conservation Committee. You >>>> can follow his work at the link below. >>>> >>>> All photographs by Aaron Savio Lobo >>>> See images at >>>> >>>> https://www.goyajournal.in/blog/the-unwritten-rules-of-oyster-fishing-goa >>>> -- >>>> Goanet Reader is edited and compiled by Frederick Noronha. >>>> >>>> Your writer has contributed this work gratis, in public >>>> interest. Repay him with your comments, feedback and appreciation >>>> (if deserved). Share your comments with him (address on top) >>>> with a cc to goa...@goanet.org >>>> >>>