Steps taken to enforce trawl ban

Fishermen from the mechanised sector adhering to the 47-day ban on trawling from Thursday midnight as they leave the Neendakara fishing harbour in Kollam with their fishing equipment.

The district administration has taken all measures to enforce the trawl ban from Wednesday midnight to July 31.

Free rations

Measures have been taken by the Fisheries Department to distribute free ration to the fishermen who lose work during the period. As many as 17,000 workers would be eligible for getting foodgrains free of cost. The scheme would be extended to more applicants, if required.

A patrolling boat has been readied at Azheekkal. Persons experienced in marine relief works would be engaged for emergency operations. Steps to help realise the demand for setting up a fisheries station at Thottappally were being made, according to District Collector Veena N.Madhavan.

There are about 200 motorised and mechanised fishing boats apart from over 4,000 non-mechanised and non-motorised boats. Over 43,000 people earn a living by fishing in the district. The ban period is generally utilised by the fishermen to repair their boats. The ban period also witnesses the arrival of fish from neighbouring States to the fish markets in Kerala.

Control rooms functioning round the clock have been opened at the office of the Fisheries Deputy Director. Control rooms have also been opened by the Coast Guard and the Coastal police. The control room numbers during the trawl ban period are: Collectorate: 0477 2238630, Fisheries Department: 0477 2251103, Coast Guard: 1554, 1093, Coastal police: 1095.