47-day trawling ban to take effect midnight

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 14 (UNI) The annual 47-day ban on trawling off the Kerala Coast during the monsoon period for conservation of fish resources will come into force from midnight tonight.

According to official sources, the ban on trawlers would be in force within the 12-nautical mile zone from the coast till July 31.

However, traditional fishermen would be permitted to undertake pelagic fishing using mechanised boats during the period.

Elaborate arrangements were made for strictly implementing the ban. The practice had been in vogue since 1988 as monsoon was considered to be the spawning season for varieties of fish, the sources said.

The District Collectors would be the nodal officers for implementing the ban. Round-the-clock control rooms had started functioning in all the districts.

Most of the trawlers from the neighbouring states left the Kerala Coast ahead of the ban.

Police said steps had been taken to ensure there was no friction between the workers of traditional craft and trawlers during the period.

UNI CR SJ SBC NS1705