Fishing boat operators have sought more time to get the boats painted afresh in line with the new colour code introduced by the Fisheries Department for security reasons.
All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators’ Association general secretary Joseph Xavier Kalapurakkal said it would not be possible to get all boats painted afresh before the July 31 deadline. The boats are expected to have a new coat of paint by the end of the current 47-day trawling ban.
However, with the ban season on, most boats are docked for repair work, and the yards are full, Mr. Kalappurakkal said. He also took strong exception to the move to have the new colour code, which was not only expensive but also ineffective as far as night identification was concerned.
He said blue and orange colours were not suitable for night hours. The experiment had failed elsewhere, he claimed and called on the government to make installation of Automatic Identification System (AIS) on boats compulsory, which, he said, was cheaper.
“AIS will help the authorities keep tabs on fishing boats. It will also be possible to ascertain whether boats are engaged for fishing or drifting, or if they are sailing into forbidden territories,” he said. At the same time, the AIS will help in speedy rescue operations, Mr. Kalappurakkal added.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of traditional fishermen, Charles George of Matsya Thozhilali Aikya Vedi said they were not opposed to the colour code. He added that the new colours would be applicable to over 20,000 boats in operation off the Kerala coast.
