: The State government is in a political and administrative fix as a result of the Central government’s decision to impose a 61-day trawling ban on the west coast from June 1.
The government is, however, likely to exercise its prerogative of fixing the ban period for 45 days from June 15 to July 31 as is usually done within its territorial jurisdiction of up to 12 nautical miles.
Fisheries Minister K. Babu has convened a conference of all major players in the sector on Tuesday to discuss the ban and other related issues.
Advice on duration
The office memorandum issued by the Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Agriculture has advised all coastal States and Union Territories to follow the same duration of uniform fishing ban within their territorial waters of 0 to 12 nautical miles as it is implemented in the Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to their territorial waters.
“In case where some States/UTs prefer to implement a different fishing ban period in their territorial waters, the State/UT is hereby requested to ensure that fishing boats of that State/UT do not enter the territorial waters of other States/UTs or in the EEZ,” the memorandum says.
Option
It also gives the States which opt for different ban period to reach the 61-day uniform ban period within a period of five years.
The Coast Guard has been given the task of strictly implementing the ban in the EEZ and also prevent the entry of fishing boats into other regions in case different ban periods are implemented by the respective States or UTs.
To avoid tension
The State government, sources say, was well within its rights to decide on the ban period within the 12 nautical miles like it did in the previous years.
It proposes to use this to ensure monsoon ban period does not become a tension-filled period on the Kerala coast.
But there is still scope for confrontation on the high seas as many traditional fishermen are equipped with outboard engines, leading to the prospects of intrusion into the EEZ.
Mr. Babu told The Hindu that Tuesday’s meeting will bring various stakeholders together to discuss how the ban should be implemented and other related issues.
Political impact
The United Democratic Front government is also wary about the political fallout of the new ban period.
The government has been paying special attention to keep this segment by improving coastal roads, implementing housing schemes, besides taking up issues to reduce the impact of the coastal zone regulations.
What is worrying the government is that the 61-day uniform ban reopens a sensitive issue and introduces tension in a sector that has witnessed calm during the monsoon period for decades.
