The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Vedi alleges violation of ban

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 28, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Vedi alleges violation of ban

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: The Latheen Katholikka Aikya Vedi, a united front of Latin Catholics, has alleged that the Kerala Monsoon Fishery (Pelagic) Protection Act enacted by the Assembly recently is being misused by trawler owners to undermine the trawling ban.

A press note by the association here on Wednesday said the law allowed fishermen to use boats equipped with engines having powers above 10 HP for surface fishing.

“Traditional fishermen do not use high-powered boats primarily because of the cost factor. Boat owners who had all along opposed the trawling ban have shifted tactics. They are now using traditional fish workers to bypass the law. In the process, they are triggering a conflict between sections of fish workers,” the press note said.

Pointing out that the State Government would find it difficult to prevent misuse of the law, Vedi president James Fernandez and general secretary G. Raju called for implementing the Supreme Court verdict on trawling ban.

They said Kerala was the only State to argue for reducing the trawling-ban period and to permit surface fishing for all boats.

The Vedi alleged that boat owners were hand in glove with politicians and exporters of marine products.

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