The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Fishworkers: allow deep sea fishing

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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Fishworkers: allow deep sea fishing

Special Correspondent

Union will observe
Deep Sea Fishing
Day today.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) will observe the World Fishworkers’ Day on November 21 as Deep Sea Fishing Day.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, State president of the Federation T. Peter and secretary Anto Elias said the proposed Marine Fishing Regulation Bill to be presented in Parliament would be an infringement of the livelihood rights of traditional fishermen.

“The new Bill makes it mandatory for fishworkers to secure a permit from the Union government to venture out beyond the territorial waters at a distance of 12 nautical miles from the coast. The Bill says the Coast Guard will have the authority to apprehend any vessel that crosses this line and arrest the occupants who can be sentenced to three years imprisonment or Rs.9 lakh as fine.”

‘Draconian law’

Terming the provisions draconian, they said depletion of fish stocks in the near shore areas was forcing fishermen out to the deep sea.

“In fact, the Murari Commission appointed by the Government to study the problems of fish workers had recommended that traditional fishermen be equipped for deep sea fishing. The proposed Fishing Regulation Bill ignores the fact that fish workers travel more than 100 nautical miles from the coast daily to get enough catch. It is an encroachment on our right to fish anywhere in the Exclusive Economic Zone upto 200 nautical miles. The government has also ignored our contribution to coastal security.”

On November 21, the federation will organise seminars and discussions throughout the State to focus attention on the emerging threat to the livelihood of fish workers.

Mr. Peter also added that it was ironic that fish workers who are the among the most affected by global warming and climate change, did not figure in the discussions to mitigate the effects.

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