You are the District Collector of Malinar, a coastal district in Kerala. The Government of India has recently implemented a nationwide ban on bottom trawling under the Marine Fisheries (Regulation & Management) Rules, 2024, citing serious ecological damage caused by the practice. However, in Malinar district, a majority of the traditional fishing community has relied solely on bottom trawling for decades. Most fishermen possess only trawling boats and lack the training or resources to transition to alternative practices. The situation has intensified ahead of the upcoming United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) "Oceans for Tomorrow" Conference, to be hosted in Kochi. The central government wants to showcase strict enforcement and marine conservation achievements. You receive a formal directive from the State Secretariat to take strict legal action, including seizure of boats and arrests, against fishermen found violating the ban. Simultaneously, a confidential note warns you that any negative media attention or footage of illegal trawling from your district could "embarrass the state" and jeopardize national image at the global forum. Local tension has mounted as environment-related NGOs have started posting satellite-based evidence of illegal trawling. Simultaneously, fishermen's cooperatives are protesting, arguing that they have no alternative source of income and that seizing boats will render hundreds destitute. They are threatening to block access to the district port and dump fish waste outside government offices if the crackdown continues. (a) Who are the key stakeholders in this case? Analyze their perspectives and conflicting interests. (b) As the District Collector, what are the options available to you to handle this situation? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each option. (c) What steps will you take and why? Justify your decision. Local tensions rise as environmental NGOs begin posting satellite-based evidence of illegal trawling. Fishermen's cooperatives are protesting, arguing that they have no alternative source of income, and any seizure of boats will push hundreds into destitution. They threaten to block access to the district harbour and dump fish waste outside government offices if strict enforcement continues. (a) Who are the principal stakeholders in this case? Analyse their perspectives and conflicting interests. (b) As the District Collector, what are the various options available to you to address the situation? Evaluate the merits and demerits of each option. (c) What course of action would you take and why? Justify your decision. You are a senior researcher at a prominent cosmetic company, responsible for overseeing the testing phase of a new anti-aging product. The company proposes using mice to assess the safety and efficacy of the product. However, there is growing public concern over animal testing, particularly from animal rights groups, which argue that using animals for cosmetic testing is both cruel and unnecessary. Further, regulatory bodies have established strict procedures that cosmetic companies must follow to ensure safety for consumers. You, being a proponent of ethical practices, are conflicted between meeting the company's market deadlines and adhering to your personal beliefs regarding animal rights. You are also bound by the stringent procedures established by regulatory bodies. However, the company is facing year-on-year losses due to intense competition. An internal marketing study reveals increasing demand for anti-aging products and test on mice is the fastest method to achieve reliable results. Although the company has guidelines for humane treatment of animals, you feel uneasy about the ethical implications of using animals, especially given the availability of alternative testing methods like in-vitro testing and 3D human skin models. (a) What are the key ethical dilemmas you face in using animals for cosmetic research?

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Syllabus: Case Studies on above issues.