Kerala - Kochi   

Coordination panel flays move to import fish

KOCHI: The Kerala Fisheries Coordination Committee, representing stake-holders in the fishing industry, has opposed the duty-free import of fish from European Union countries.

A communication from the committee said discussions on finalising the import had progressed fast and that the move would adversely affect about a million traditional fishermen in the State.

It has been recommended that 40 varieties of fish, including sardines, mackerels and ribbon fish, will be imported as per the new decision.

The Government had also decided to import fish from Thailand. The coordination committee has said that fish import from Thailand should be avoided. India and Thailand had reached an agreement in 2003 in this regard.

Fish workers and traders had marched to Parliament to oppose the Thailand deal. However, the committee alleged that import of fish from Thailand was taking place even before the agreement was signed.

Kerala is a State where fishing and related activities provide employment to a large number of people and the State would be hit hard in the Government goes ahead with import of fish, the communication said.

The organisations that are part of the coordination committee will march to the office of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) on September 27 to press their demand. Meanwhile, the Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation too has demanded that the Government turn away from the move. The federation appealed to the Kerala Government to exert pressure on the Union Government to get the move dropped.

Fish workers from all over the State are expected to participate in the demonstrations being organised by the federation before the Head Post Office in Kollam on September 13 and before the Accountant General’s office in Thiruvananthapuram on September 17, said a press release here.

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