Kerala - Kochi   

Bestow rights on fishermen: panel

KOCHI: The task force on aquarian reforms has suggested that the right of ownership of fishing craft and gear in the inland and territorial waters be exclusively reserved for traditional and artisanal fishermen.

The ownership of all types of fishing vessels, craft, and gear deployed and engaged in fisheries in the territorial sea and inland public water bodies should be vested with traditional fishermen or fishermen cooperatives, suggested the committee headed by the former director of the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology K. Ravindran.

Fisheries Minister S. Sarma received the report on aquarian reforms from Mr. Ravindran and also a draft enabling legislation on the Kerala Aquarian (Fisheries) Reforms Act-2008.

The task force has recommended to the State government to bestow legally the right of fishing in the inland and territorial waters exclusively on traditional fishermen. The right of first sale of fish netted by fishermen should be legally reserved for those who fish, the task force suggested.

The other recommendations of the task force included the establishment of a regulated marketing system in Kerala and steps to ensure the availability of appropriate quality and quantity of fish for consumers in Kerala.

The members of the task force include J. Mercykutty Amma, V.V. Saseendran, V. Dinakaran, P. Raju, M. Devarajan, N.G.K. Pillai, M.R. Bhoopendranath, Ummer Ottummal and Charles George. D. Sanjeeva Ghosh was the member- convener of the committee.

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