Trawling ban from midnight today

Thiruvananthapuram, June 14 (UNI) The annual monsoon ban on trawler vessels fishing in the sea off the Kerala coast will take effect from midnight tonight.

''The ban will be for 47 days and all arrangements, including safety measures, have been made to ensure strict implementation of the ban, which will end on July 31'' state Fisheries Minister S Sharma told UNI.

''No mechanised boats from our state and as from other states and foreign countries will be permitted to enter the territorial waters'', he said adding that ''country boats fitted with outboard engines over 10 HP will also not be allowed fishing during the period.'' The ban would force about 3,500 registered mechanished fishing vessels and a large number of unregistered vessels and more than 16,000 country crafts to remain idle till the ban was lifted.

The ban would render about 1.5 lakh workers engaged in the fishing sector jobless.

The government had taken all precautionary measures to meet any eventuality during the period and four special cells had been opened by the Coast Guard at Vizhinjam, Neendakara, Kochi and Beypore fishing harbours, he said adding that helicopter services would be made available for rescue operations in case of accidents.

Besides this, control rooms by the Marine Department would be opened at Azheekkal, Kayamkulam, Munambam, Chettuva, Kozhikode, Puthiyappa, Kannur and Thalassery fishing harbours, he said.

The government had also issued necessary directions to make available sufficient speed boats in all fishing harbours for patrolling and for rescue operations.

Mr sharma said the government was planning to enact a legislation to overcome the issue, to protect the traditional fishermen from the trawling ban.

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