Kochi: The one-day ‘sea hartal’called by a section of the traditional fishermen in the state demanding effective measures to prevent juvenile fishing brought fishing activities in the coastal regions of the state into a standstill on Wednesday.
The protesting fisher folks also made symbolic bonfire of fishing boats and nets used for unsustainable fishing practices near the Cochin Harbour. Addressing the gathering Aam Admi Party state coordinator C.R. Neelakandan sought the support of the civil society for the struggle of the fisher folks.
The issue of juvenile fishing should not be used as an instrument for vitiating the atmosphere in the coastal regions of the state, said Charles George, President of the Kerala Matsaya Thozhilali Aikyadevi. A lobby comprising a section of boat owners and fish traders are involved in juvenile fishing detrimental to the sustainability of the fish wealth of the state and livelihood of the fisher folks. "The authorities concerned should take strict measures to prohibit such activities and persons engaged in such unhealthy practices should refrain from it", he said.
The fishing sector in the state is passing through a severe crisis with the sea catch dwindling to 4.8 lakh tonne from the levels of 8.39 lakh tonne in the past three years. The sharpest fall has been noticed in the availability of oil sardines, the mainstay of traditional fisher folks in the state. The availability of oil sardines fell to 68,880 tonne from the levels of 3.99 lakh tonne.
