THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A ban on trawling will be imposed in the state from the 10th of this month. The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held today. The ban on trawling will be imposed for 52 days from the midnight of June 9 to the midnight of July 31. A notification in this regard has been issued.

The Fisheries Department informed that fishing boats will not be allowed to venture into the sea during the trawling ban period. A meeting chaired by ADM in Charge K.V. Sruthi decided to strengthen police surveillance and sea surveillance in coastal areas. Since safety standards have been tightened, owners have been instructed to send only workers with Aadhaar, registration certificates and licenses to fish in traditional vessels.

All boats must enter the harbours before 12 midnight on the 9th, the day the trawling ban begins. Foreign boats fishing off the Kerala coast must leave the coast before 9 am. Inboard boats engaged in fishing during the trawling ban period are allowed to use only one carrier boat. Pair trawling or double netting using two boats is strictly prohibited and punishable.