Marking Asia's Anti-Gas Expansion Day, fishermen from Visakhapatnam district organized a sea-based boat rally on Thursday to protest against gas expansion projects. The rally, organized by Samata, MM&P, and APMDD organizations, saw participation from fishermen across the northern Andhra districts as well as leaders from Dalit and tribal communities, who displayed placards and banners during the event.

Samata Coordinator K. Satish Kumar highlighted the increasing plastic pollution in the ocean, especially near tourist areas, where plastic waste has not been effectively controlled. He noted that this pollution is not only contaminating the sea but is also severely affecting marine life.

Kumar further demanded an immediate halt to gas expansion projects in the ocean, citing the environmental disturbances they cause. He expressed concern about the significant climatic changes that fishermen have been facing yearly due to these gas extraction projects. While Asian countries continue to expand gas projects at a rapid pace, Kumar lamented that less attention is being paid to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

He called for a suspension of funding for natural gas and LNG projects, arguing that despite a slight reduction in coal mining across Asia, there has been a significant increase in gas and oil extraction activities. Highlighting the need to curb carbon emissions, he pointed out that the United Nations has emphasized the adverse impact of fossil fuel extraction on climate change. Kumar noted that indiscriminate coal and oil extraction are primary contributors to global warming and related respiratory issues due to increased methane emissions.

To limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, he demanded a worldwide reduction in coal, oil, and gas production without delay.

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