KOCHI: The state government should take urgent steps to remove the confusion in the wake of the high court verdict the other day giving an impression that fishing has been banned by everyone including the traditional fishermen during the period of trawling ban, says Kerala Matsyathozhilali Aikyavedi. According to Charles George, president of the Aikyavedi, the judgment on Friday has banned traditional crafts using the facilities of trawl boats.
A section of the people has been using the verdict create an impression that fishing using traditional fishing vessels has been banned, he said. The government should file a petition for clarification in the court to clear the confusion, he said.
According to George, non-motorised boats used by traditional fishermen totalling 4,000 account for only one percent of the fish catch in the coast. Banning such a fishing largely known as surface water fishing is not causing any negative impact on fishery resources unlike the trawler fishing, he added. The HC issued the order on a petition filed by boat owners questioning the extension of trawling ban from 47 days to 52 days. The HC said all fishing vessels using trawling type fishing system must be banned during trawling ban.
