Hotelier Crowned ‘Eco Warrior’ For Saving Whale Sharks

June 21, 2008

Release from: Sibte Husain Bukhari
ExpressIndia.com

Abdul Wadud Banatwala, a hotelier from Veraval, has been awarded with the prestigious ‘Eco Warrior Award’ for his significant contribution towards saving the whale shark. He has dedicated the award to the fishermen community of the state over whom he exerts a great deal of influence.

Banatwala had played an important part in the making of the documentary, ‘Shores of Silence,’ by Mike Pandey. The documentary focused on the protection of the highly endangered Whale Shark. Banatwala screened this film in all most every fishermen locality to educate them about the species and why they should not kill it. He told them that the presence of marine species along the Gujarat coast is crucial as it purifies the sea, which is polluted by the 20,000 odd fishing boats plying along the 1,600 km long coast line.

Banatwala's efforts bore fruit when the fishermen communities pledged not to kill the whale sharks. In the last couple of years, their hunting has come down to almost nil.

According to Banatwala, fishermen communities have to incur considerable losses every year because of the self-moratorium imposed on the killing of these shark. “It is our duty to compensate them in every suitable way and make adequate arrangements for their benefit. We should concentrate on the development of the coastline. Efforts should also be made to develop marine tourism," he said.

He further said that a project worth Rs. 200 crore is being planned for the development of marine tourism in the state.

“We will require the full fledged cooperation from the government as well as the corporate sector in this regard,” he added.