52-day trawling ban in Kerala from June 9 to July 31

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Trawling has been banned in the state for 52 days from midnight on June 9 to midnight on July 31. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Minister Saji Cherian.

The Minister assured the meeting that the distribution of free rations to the fishermen working on the trawling boat and the allied workers who depend on them for their livelihood would be intensified during trawling ban. The 24-hour Fisheries Control Rooms in all the coastal districts have been operational since May 15.

District level decisions should be taken by convening a meeting of the concerned officials and various trade union leaders in the fisheries sector under the chairmanship of the district collectors to implement the ban on trawling. The Minister also directed the coastal district collectors to direct the other state boats to leave the Kerala coast before the ban on trawling begins.

Neendakara Harbor in Kollam was opened to all traditional fishing vessels except inboard boats during the trawling ban. The minister suggested that action be taken to continue it this year as well. Diesel bunks operating in harbors and landing centers should be ordered to close in connection with the trawling ban. However, in order to make diesel available to inboard vessels, the selected diesel bunks of the Matsyafed in the respective districts should be allowed to operate subject to conditions.

Biometric IDs will be issued to all fishermen going to sea as part of maritime and coastal security. Make sure that the card / Aadhaar card and life jacket are kept. The meeting also decided that boats which have not done uniform color coding should do colour coding immediately during the trawling ban period.

If the activities of the Marine Enforcement require the services of more policemen during the trawling ban period, the respective district police chiefs should take steps to allow them as requested by the district fisheries officers. By the evening of June 9, the Marine Enforcement and coastal police must ensure that all trawling boats have been moved from the sea to a safer location. He also suggested that strict legal action be taken against trawl boats that violate the trawling ban.

Only one carrier boat will be allowed along with the inboard vessels during the trolling ban period. The Fisheries Department, Marine Enforcement and the Coastal Police should work in coordination when rescue operations are required at sea during the prohibition period. The meeting also directed the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard to be ready to carry out rescue operations in case of emergency.

The meeting was attended by various trade union leaders in the fisheries sector, district collectors, district superintendents of police, chief of coastal police, Marine Enforcement, Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, fisheries and civil supplies officials.