: Even as the 61-day fishing ban is in force along the western coast, marine fishing activity along the Kerala waters went on as usual on Tuesday.
Coast Guard vessels were seen active in enforcing the ban on Monday, but on Tuesday, the sea seemed open to fishing. Almost the entire fleet of traditional vessels in the Kollam harbour put out to sea on Tuesday. Over 400 mechanised boats also left for fishing from the Shakthikulangara-Neendakara twin harbours.
There was brisk auctioning of fish at all landing sites. Some traditional vessels sailed more than 35 nautical miles on Tuesday to engage in fishing. Mechanised sector boats from Kollam ventured out more than 90 nautical miles.
The fishing sector expects Tuesday’s status quo to continue till June 14 when the State-imposed 47-day monsoon time ban on trawling will come into force. On the strength of overt support from the State government till that time for mechanised and traditional fishing activity off the Kerala waters, the fishermen expressed confidence that they would not be harassed by the Coast Guard personnel.
After June 14, the mechanised sector will comply with the 47-day ban, but the traditional sector fishermen would put out to sea as usual. They said they were not sure whether they would be permitted to fish.
T. Peter, leader of the National Fishworkers’ Forum, said even if the 12-nautical mile limit was permitted, that too would be defied since it was a matter of livelihood. “The shocking aspect was that the government appeared to be totally apathetic to how the fishing community would survive through the 61-day ban,” he said.
