Kerala fishermen, govt in a tangle over juvenile catch

Kerala’s mechanised fishing boat operators and Fisheries department are at loggerheads over the seizure of fishing boats and imposition of fine after the discovery of small fish in their deep-sea catches.

The boat operators have sought the intervention of the Chief Minister seeking an end to the alleged harassment by Fisheries officials.

Joseph Xavier Kalappurackal, General Secretary, All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators Association, said that officials at the Munambam Fisheries Harbour had recently confiscated a boat and fined ₹2.5 lakh after finding small fish in the catch.

Under CMFRI rules, such catches are considered a violation only if more than 50 per cent of the samples are composed of fish below the prescribed minimum legal size (MLS).

At the meeting conducted for “determining MLS violations”, it was agreed that the sampling should be carried out in the presence of fisheries department officials, marine scientists and the boat owner. The penalty can be imposed only if the catch contained more than 50 per cent of small fish, Kalappurackal said.

To determine MLS violations, the Fisheries Department was advised to take a random species-wise sub sample of the catch, take appropriate measurements and consider the catch as a violation if 50 per cent of the sample is composed of fish at or below the prescribed MLS. Such inspections should be carried out at sea or in the landing centres using an unsorted sample, he added.

Refuting the allegation of harassment, State Fisheries Minister J Mercikutty Amma said that the department is implementing the CMFRI recommendations on MLS to protect exploitation of all juvenile fish and to prevent overfishing. A strict implementation of the rule has started yielding results, which is evident from the 12 per cent rise in the catch at 6,42,580 tonnes in 2018 compared to previous years.

Rule for all Coastal States

Moreover, the Southern Fisheries Ministers’ Conclave held in Kochi in November last year had unanimously decided to implement CMFRI recommendations in all the coastal states, the Minister said.

“We are committed to implement the order to improve the fish wealth and maintain healthy stock of marine fish off the Kerala coast. This will ensure a better income to fisher folks on a sustainable basis. The department will take stern action against mechanised fishing boats only if 50 per cent of the catch is below the prescribed MLS,” she told BusinessLine .

The boat operators association convened a meeting at Beypore recently and decided to organise a march and mass dharna before the Joint Director of Fisheries at Kozhikode on April 2 followed by similar ones in Ernakulam and Kollam. They have also threatened to hold a one-day token strike or an indefinite strike if the government does not take a favourable decision in the matter.