The meeting presided over by Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian decided that this year’s trawling ban in the state will be for 52 days from midnight of June 9 to midnight of July 31. The decision was taken in a meeting with various trade union leaders in the fisheries sector, District Collectors, District Superintendents of Police, Coastal Police Chief, Marine Enforcement, Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, Fisheries and Civil Supplies officials.
The Fisheries Minister assured the meeting that free ration distribution allowed to fishermen employed in trawling boats and allied workers who depend on them for livelihood will be intensified during the ban on trawling. 24-hour fisheries control rooms have started functioning in all coastal districts from May 15.
In order to implement the ban on trawling, district level decisions should be taken in a meeting of concerned officials and leaders of various trade unions in the fisheries sector under the chairmanship of District Collectors. The Minister also informed that the concerned Coastal District Collectors should issue instructions to the non-state boats to leave the Kerala coast before the ban on trawling begins.
Neendakara Harbor in Kollam district was open to traditional fishing vessels except inboard boats during the ban on trawling. The minister suggested that steps should be taken to continue it this year as well. In connection with the ban on trawling, diesel bunks operating in harbours and landing centres should be directed to be closed. However, selected diesel bunks of Matsya Fed in respective districts should be allowed to operate subject to conditions to supply diesel to inboard boats. As a part of sea safety and coastal safety, it should be ensured that all fishermen going to sea are provided with biometric ID card/Aadhaar card and life jackets. The meeting also decided that the boats, which have not done uniform colour coding, should do colour coding immediately during the period of the ban on trawling.
If the activities of marine enforcement require the services of additional policemen during the period of ban on trawling, the respective District Chiefs of Police should take steps to allow the same as and when requested by the District Fisheries Officers. Marine Enforcement and Coastal Police should ensure that all trawling boats are moved out of the sea to a safe place by the evening of June 9. It was also suggested that strict legal action should be taken against trawl boats violating the ban on trawling.
During the trawling ban period, only one carrier ring with inboard rings is allowed. Fisheries Department Marine Enforcement and Coastal Police should work in coordination when rescue operations are required at sea during the trawling ban period. The meeting also suggested that the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard should be ready to carry out rescue operations in case of emergency. The Minister also requested the fishermen to fully cooperate with the fishing ban issued by the State Disaster Management Authority due to climate change.