Date:11/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/11/stories/2006031102540500.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Move to impose total fishing ban during monsoon opposed

Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA: The reported move of the Union Government to impose a complete ban on fishing during the period of annual trawling ban is an unscientific one aimed at subverting the trawling ban, Swatantra Matsya Tozhilali Federation patron Lal Koipparambil has said.

At a press conference here on Friday, Mr. Lal demanded that the move, based on a report of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, be revoked. He claimed that the fishing methods employed by traditional fishermen were in no way harmful to the breeding of fish during monsoon. However, studies have proved that mechanised boats that use trawling nets hamper breeding of fish and this lead to extinction of several species of fish.

Mr. Lal pointed out that seasonal ban on fishing was being implemented by those countries that had no traditional fishermen. In a State like Kerala with around 10 lakh traditional fishermen fishing ban was not practical, he said.