Kerala Coast to observe silent waves as trawling ban to commence from Saturday midnight

Thiruvananthapuram, June 9: Following the 52-day monsoon trawling ban, which will begin on Saturday midnight, the district authorities have issued a directive to all other-state mechanized boats to leave Kerala coast before the commencement of the ban period.

During the period mechanized boats and trawlers will not be allowed to venture into the sea for fishing along the Kerala coast. The trawling ban is being implemented to coincide with the breeding season and to allow replenishment of Marine Resources.

A meeting held at the district collectorate to review the steps taken to regulate the operations of fishing boats in Kerala coast has decided to shut down the diesel bunks operating in the fishing harbors and along the coastal belt during the period. Diesel will be provided to inboard fishing boats through the banks operated by the Matsyafed and select diesel bunks. Mechanised boats will not be provided diesel for these bunks.

The meeting also decided to impose restrictions on catching fish below the minimum legal size. Mechanised boats and traditional boats catching juvenile fish will be seized and a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh will be imposed on them, said Fisheries Deputy Director S Mahesh.

The government will provide free ration to fishing boat workers and peeling shed workers. The fishermen should contact Matsya Bhavan to apply for free ration. Though inboard fishing boats are allowed to continue fishing operations, an inboard boat will be allowed to take only one carrier boat along with it. The registration details of the carrier boats should be submitted at the fisheries offices concerned.

Traditional fishermen venturing into the sea during the trawling ban period should carry biometric identity card along with them. The Fisheries Department has deployed three patrolling boats and opened a control room at the Vypeen Fisheries Station to help fishermen in distress. The control room will function round-the-clock. The Coast Guard will deploy a ship and a helicopter for rescue operations and patrolling.