Operators attack fisheries station, take back trawlers

Vessels were seized by marine police for juvenile fishing

At least two persons were injured when a group of around 200 people operating mechanised trawlers attacked the Vypeen fisheries station and seized two fishing vessels confiscated earlier by the marine police.

The attack occurred around 4.30 a.m. on Saturday after two trawlers boats were confiscated on charges of juvenile fishing. About an hour earlier, a team comprising Fisheries Assistant Director Rajeev S.I., two marine enforcement officials and two sea guards had intercepted the trawlers, Abishikthan and Fernando, from the Munambam mini harbour.

As the officers returned to the fisheries station, a mob led by the owners of the confiscated boats stormed the station and unleashed an attack. The furniture and the display board of the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), set up for giving information to fishermen, were damaged.

The attack lasted around 45 minutes, following which they took away the vessels and dumped the fish stock in them into the water.

Injured

Mr. Rajeev and Shiju, a sea-guard, sustained minor injuries. They are undergoing treatment at the Ernakulam General Hospital. Officials said at least nine trawlers had been confiscated over the last two days for juvenile fishing.

Together, they had been imposed a fine of ₹16 lakh. In view of the incidents on Saturday, the department will issue notice to the owners of the vessels Fernando and Abishikthan, asking them to surrender the vessels. “If they fail to oblige, we will confiscate the vessels and initiate procedures to cancel their registration,” officials said.

The Mulavukadu police registered cases against owners of the boats and 200 others for rioting, unlawful assembling, hindering official duty and terrorising people.

Protesting against the attack on fisheries office, fishermen took out a march in Vypeen on Saturday.