The state government has decided to impose a 52-day ban on trawling operations, starting at midnight on June 9 and ending on July 31 at midnight. The decision was taken during a meeting of Fisheries Minister Saji Cheriyan with industry players on Wednesday.

The state government had, for the first time, extended the 45-day ban, in effect since 1994, to 52 days last year, given the demand raised by traditional fishermen. The Federation Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali (SMTF) and Matsya Thozhilali Aikya Vedi had favored longer periods of bans on trawling operations during the monsoon as a measure to conserve marine fishery resources.

Jackson Pollayil said after the meeting that the SMTF was in favor of a longer blackout period for monsoon operations, although the minister said the continued lockdown and restrictions on fishing activities due to the spread the pandemic as well as the loss of fishing days had to be taken into account. when the ban on trawl fishing was imposed.

We learn that the minister said that a longer period of ban on trawl fishing could be considered in the future as a step towards the conservation of resources.

Demand from boat operators

Operators of all Kerala fishing vessels, however, said the 52-day ban would come into effect in addition to the days lost due to the spread of the pandemic.

In a recent letter to Chief Minister Joseph Xavier Kalapurackal of the Boat Owners Association said about 3,000 mechanized boats were operating off the coast of Kerala and another 800 boats from neighboring states were fishing in the waters of the Kerala.

However, restrictions on fishing activities only affected boats departing from the Kerala coast, while fishing vessels from other states fished freely. Weather warnings and other restrictions were applied only to boats from Kerala, while boats from other states operated freely.

Boat operators also said the cost of fuel had risen dramatically, making fishing expeditions economically unsustainable and called on the state government to take appropriate action to bring comfort to the fishing industry, which employed about 10 lakh directly and indirectly.

All ships from other states have been ordered to leave the Kerala coast by June 9. All diesel pumps will be closed along the shore while pumps operated by Matsyafed will supply fuel to traditional boats.