Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Ban on trawling: State steps up vigil along coast

Special Correspondent

Fishermen threaten to violate ban order

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government on Sunday intensified patrolling along the coastal areas of the State, as fishermen began protesting against the extension of the ban on trawling.

In Kollam coast, fishermen ventured out into the sea in protest against the ban. They maintained that they had only taken out the boats and had not done any trawling as such. However, authorities are not ruling out the chances of some fishermen trying to break the ban.

The Government issued orders on Saturday extending the ban up to August 15 on the directive of the Supreme Court. The Court order applied to the States of Maharastra, Gujarat, Goa and Karnataka besides Kerala. Kerala had earlier imposed of a 45-day ban on trawling in its coastal seas, which was to end on July 29.

Fisheries Minister S. Sarma has appealed to the fishermen to abide by the Court order. The State had no option but to extend the ban as its petition against the extension had been rejected. The Court had maintained that the issue could not be considered now, but the petition could be heard before the next monsoon.

The Centre, Mr. Sarma said, has agreed to appoint an expert committee to study the issue of duration of ban and take a position in the Court based on its findings.

Tension at Alapad

Staff Reporter adds from Kollam: Tension prevailed in the Azheekal harbour area of Alapad panchayat early morning on Sunday as 14 fishing boats equipped with inboard engines of more than 100 HP geared up to put to sea for fishing violating the Supreme Court order. The situation was brought under control after Kollam Collector B. Srinivas intervened and appealed to the fishermen not to set sail. Each boat had more than 30 fishermen on board.

On Saturday evening, the Collector had spoken to the fishermen in Alapad and obtained an assurance from them that they would not violate the Supreme Court directive. However, late in the night, the fishing community members were given a different interpretation of the Supreme Court verdict by a leader of the Dheevara Sabha, the district administration officials said. They were told that the ban was only on trawling and not traditional fishing.

On Sunday morning, when the Collector was on his way to the harbour, he noticed that a few boats that were anchored at Panikarkadavu the previous evening were missing. As he reached the harbour, he noticed that the boats were preparing to sail. Even as the Collector was trying to dissuade those on the boats, fishermen on three boats set sail.

Later, the Collector summoned Alapad panchayat president Raja Das and held talks with the fishermen again. He pointed out the relevant portions of the court order and warned the fishermen that if they set sail, they would be booked under criminal cases. The boats, engines and nets would also be impounded. The fishermen later contacted those who had set sail on mobile phones and asked them to return.

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