Traditional fishermen and boat operators organised demonstrations centred around fish landing centres and harbours in Ernakulam on Monday to register their stand on the incidents that occurred in the early hours of Sunday in which two fishing vessels were taken away from the Vypeen Fisheries Station.
Matsya Thozhilali Aikya Vedhi, representing traditional fishermen, held demonstrations at Chellanam, Thoppumpady, Manassery and Kalamukku among other centres, to demand more vigorous enquiries into the incidents on Sunday.
The protesters demanded that the police arrest the culprits involved in the attack on the fisheries station and condemned what they described as the police going slow on the investigations.
The Kerala Boat Operators’ Association alleged that the charges had been drummed up against the boat owners and claimed that the Fisheries officials were wrong in seizing the boats on Sunday morning. Joseph Xavier Kalapurakkal of the Boat Operators’ Association alleged that the fisheries station was not attacked by the boat operators.
He claimed that visuals on the cameras on the fisheries office premises should ascertain the truth and that the boat operators would make strong representations to the Chief Minister, the governor and top police officers, demanding an impartial inquiry into the incidents. Charles George of the Aikya Vedhi said the Fisheries Department officials had become ineffective in combating juvenile fishing and that patrolling should be strengthened against the practice.
P.B. Dayanandan, leader of the traditional fishermen’s group Paramparagatha Matsya Thozhilali Samyukta Samithi, and others addressed the protesting traditional fishermen.
Mr. George alleged that the boat operators had unilaterally withdrawn from an earlier agreement to desist from juvenile fishing. However, Mr. Kalappurakkal claimed that even traditional fishermen were engaged in juvenile fishing and that allegations were being framed against the boat operators.
He said one of the boats seized by the Fisheries officials on Sunday morning was operated and owned by a group of fishermen.
The incidents related to the seizure of the boats and the forceful release of the boats have opened up a front for confrontation between the traditional and mechanized boat operators off the coast of Kerala.
The traditional fishermen allege that the Fisheries Department was not being effective in combating the practice of juvenile fishing.
