The Hindu Business Line : Kerala fishermen go on indefinite strike

ANCHORS DOWN: Fishing operations will come to a halt as fishing boat operators and traditional fishermen in the State will go on an indefinite strike from Wednesday. - H. Vibhu

Kochi , Dec. 14

THE fishing operations in the State is likely to come to a standstill from Tuesday midnight in view of the indefinite agitation called by the fishing boat operators and traditional fishermen.

As many as 6,000 fishing boats, trawlers and traditional fishing crafts operating in the fisheries sector under the banner Matsya Thozhilali Union and Fisheries Harbour Union will go on an indefinite strike demanding fixing of a minimum price for marine products, subsidy for diesel etc.

Mr Joseph Kalapurakkal, General Secretary of All Kerala Boat Owners Association, said that frequent hike in diesel and petrol prices had affected the viable operations of the fishing industry in the State.

During the last one year, he said, the diesel prices had surged by 50 per cent, thereby making an additional burden of Rs 22,000 on a weekly basis to owners.

He pointed out that a fishing boat required at least 60,000 litre of diesel for 40 weeks. However, the average catch per boat was in the range of Rs16-20 lakh in a season.

Apart from this, the cess imposed by the Union Government and sales tax payable to the State Government had affected the profitability in the sector. At present, the State Government is collecting Rs 5.55 sales tax and the Centre Re 1 as road cess, he added.

The boat operators from neighbouring States, who operate in the Kerala waters, had also extended their support for the agitation, he said.

Demanding an immediate intervention of the State Government in the crisis, Mr Lal Koiparambil, the convenor of the Fisheries Joint Action Council said that the workers in the peeling shed, traditional fishermen and other allied processing industries had also decided to join in the strike demanding minimum retail price for fish.

He pointed out that at present around 2 million workers, directly or indirectly were dependent on the fishery sector.

He also accused the role played by the exporters in the price crash of various category of fishes despite demand.