The Hindu Business Line : Trawling ban from June 14 in Kerala

THE monsoon-time ban on mechanised trawlers fishing in the seas off the Kerala coast would come into force from the midnight of June 14, according to the Fisheries Minister, Mr K.V. Thomas.

Further details on the type of fishing boats to be brought within the scope of the ban and extension, if any, of the notified 45-day ban period, would be thrashed out at a meeting of stakeholders to be held here on June 2, the Minister added. The Coast Guard and the Marine Enforcement Wing would be pressed into service to check if the ban was being observed in letter and spirit.

The Minister had met with representatives of organisations of traditional fishermen as also boat owners to seek their cooperation in implementing the ban. The boat owners demanded that the ban be extended to traditional fishermen too, since monsoon coincided with the spawning season for many varieties of fish.

Those who attended Wednesday's meeting included Mr Devadatt G. Purakkad (Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Congress), Mr T.J. Anjelose (AITUC), Mr V. Dinakaran (Dheevara Sabha), Mr V.V. Saseendran (CITU) and Mr T. Peter (Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation).

Kerala has a coastline extending to 590 km. The coastal sea, which has the same area as the terrestrial area, is one of the most productive areas as far as fishing is concerned.

More than a million people belonging to the fishing communities live in 222 fishing villages in the State.