A Ministerial delegation comprising Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Fisheries Minister K. Babu, and Labour Minister Shibu Baby John will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convey the State’s concerns over the extended seasonal fishing ban imposed by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone.
Briefing presspersons after the Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday, Mr. Chandy said the meeting would be scheduled after seeking the Prime Minister’s convenience.
He said the State government was opposed to the Syda Rao Committee’s recommendation on extending the seasonal fishing ban to 61 days and the office memorandum issued by the Union Ministry.
“The government has already sent a letter to the Prime Minister flagging the concerns of the State,” he said.
However, the government’s resolve not to implement the 61-day fishing ban in its territorial jurisdiction from June 1 and the decision to send a ministerial delegation to meet Mr. Modi on the issue have failed to assuage the feelings of the restive fishermen community in the State.
Minister’s assurance
Fisheries Minister K. Babu had assured representatives of fishworkers’ organisations on Tuesday that the extended seasonal fishing ban imposed by the Ministry would not be implemented.
He said Kerala would stick to the 47-day trawling ban as in the previous years. He, however, added that the State was not for a confrontation with the Union government on the issue.
Agitation
T. Peter, secretary, National Fishworkers Forum, said fishers from the State would be forced to violate the ban to protect their livelihood.
“The government will be responsible for any untoward incident at sea,” he said.
The Fisheries Coordination Committee is planning an agitation from May 19 against the fishing ban.
