Fishermen across the State will observe a coastal hartal on April 8 demanding the withdrawal of the recommendations of the Dr. B. Meenakumari Committee on deep-sea fishing.
Kerala State Matsya Thozhilali Federation (AITUC) president T.J. Angelose told a press conference here on Wednesday that agitations by the community in the past seven months had been ignored by the Central government. As part of intensifying the agitation, fishermen would take out a protest march to Raj Bhavan on April 21, he said.
The government order issued on the basis of the recommendations would pave way for the granting of permits to 1,178 foreign trawlers. The report also called for prohibition of fishing in the buffer zone, depths from 200-500 metre. This was the core fishing area and the proposal, if implemented, would be disastrous, he said.
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The monsoon trawling ban would exempt foreign trawlers. In addition, the order would enable fishing by large ships within 12 nautical miles from the shore, where fishing was usually done by traditional fishermen. Previously, such ships were allowed to undertake fishing only beyond 100 nautical miles, he said.
The federation would oppose the move by the Union government to introduce passports for fishermen operating in the outer seas, Mr. Angelose said. The fishing community had already obtained the mandatory identification cards, government licences, and biometric cards. Fishermen had their rights over the sea, similar to that enjoyed by tribespeople over the forest. The government move would hinder the basic rights of the fishermen, he said.
The federation also urged the government to reject the Saida Rao Committee proposal for a 61-day ban on motorised fishing by traditional fishermen during the monsoon.
Raj Bhavan march on April 21
Move to issue passports to fishermen flayed