KOCHI: The Union Government has decided to reduce the fishing ban to 47 days from 67 days in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the State.

According to an order issued by the Union Agriculture Ministry, the ban on trawling by all deep-sea fishing vessels in the EEZ in the West Coast will be from June 15 to July 31. The ban on the East Coast will be from April 15 to May 31.

In 2003, the Union Government had imposed a fishing ban for 67 days from June 10 to August 15 along the West Coast and 47 days from April 15 to May 31 along the East Coast.

"The State Government welcomes the Central order, as we have been raising the demand for reduction of the ban period at different fora," said Fisheries Minister S. Sarma.

The date of the Central fishing ban augurs well with the ban imposed for bottom trawling in the State before 2006. The Central order is about deep-sea fishing vessels, as fishing operations in the EEZ come under the purview of the Union Government. At the same time, the State Government can decide on the types of vessels to be banned in its territorial waters, said fisheries experts.

"The reduced ban period is a big relief to stakeholders in the fishing industry. This seems to be a balanced approach both for conserving the fish stock and supporting the fishing industry," said B. Madhusoodana Kurup, advisor to the State Fisheries Minister.

State's demand

Kerala had been demanding that the pre-2006 conditions, where bottom trawlers were only banned, be restored. But, a Supreme Court order in 2006 had banned vessels fitted with engines with 10 HP and above from operating during the ban period.

Incidentally, most traditional fishermen in the State use engines above the 10 HP limit prescribed by the Court. This had created fishing holidays in the State during the last monsoon period, experts said.

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