A tribunal has directed the state government to revise its draft coastal management maps after finding them incomplete, and has ordered on-ground verification of satellite data to accurately mark ecological zones and fishing areas essential for coastal communities.

The order follows complaints from fishermen, who argued that the maps did not comply with existing coastal regulation norms. The tribunal noted missing information such as fishing zones, village boundaries, and breeding areas, all of which are critical for protecting coastal resources and planning sustainable development.

Representatives of the fishing community pointed out that numerous maps for multiple districts omitted key ecological features such as nesting grounds, sand dunes, and mangrove buffer zones. They also raised concerns that long-term housing requirements for fishermen were overlooked, even as climate change and rising sea levels increase risk.

The tribunal also addressed a dispute over mapping scale. While the applicants sought the mandated higher-accuracy scale, authorities clarified that a broader-scale map had been provided for public consultation, with the finer-scale version to be released subsequently. 

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