With Commandant of Coast Guard Rajinder Singh Sapal pointing out that the six fishermen on the sunken Ocean Fisheries-2 did not have lifejackets and lifebuoys, the issue of safety has come to the centre of discussion.
In a press conference on Monday, Mr. Sapal had said that the fishermen had not been taking enough precautions while venturing into the sea. Mr. Sapal said by using safety gears such as lifejackets and lifebuoys fishermen can hang on for a long time during distress.
A senior police officer said the boat owners were looking more at the revenue from the fish catch than at the safety of the men who catch it. Referring to Ocean Fisheries 2 boat damage, the officer said: “He (the boat owner) does not (even) have the names of the persons who have gone on the boat. Thanks to Vincent (a crew member of the damaged boat), we could get a few names. We are still waiting for information about two fishermen, who were on the boat,” the officer said.
A section of fishermen do agree about the laxity . “This is a result of allowing people outside the fishermen community to undertake fishing,” said a fisherman, who has continued with the family occupation of operating trawl boats.
The boat owners, he said, solely relied on the boat drivers to get the fish. “The driver takes persons he wants. Experienced ones like me may survive, but those not exposed to fishing in the sea pay with their life,” he said.
As per details provided by the Mangalore City police, 12 fishermen have drowned in the sea since 2007. These 12 include Abdul Rehman (35), a crew member of Ocean Fisheries-2 boat. Mohan Putran, who has a trawl boat and a purse-seine boat, said the State Government had made it mandatory for all fishing boats to possess lifejackets and lifebuoys. Mr. Putran was not convinced about the utility of these safety gears. “ Dredging at the bar-mouth would address majority of concerns of fishermen, he added.
