For the fisherfolk in the city using mechanised crafts, who are kept away from the sea due to the 47-day trawling ban, the ‘intrusion’ of foreign trawlers which use high horsepower engines is another jolt. These trawlers not only threaten the fish wealth of the state, but sometimes lead to conflicts among fishermen.
A nine-member expert panel, which was constituted by the State government to evaluate the fish wealth and the impact of trawling ban along the Kerala coast, has pointed out that strict norms should be implemented to regulate the use of high power engines. The committee has also recommended length-power combinations for mechanised boats, which should be incorporated as an amendment in Kerala Marine Fishing Regulation Act 1980 and serve as a guideline for the Fisheries Department in the future. According to the fisherfolk in Beypore, there is no move yet to end the intrusion of foreign trawlers. “We have raised this issue before the MPEDA (Marine Products Export Development Authority), which convened a meeting here recently in order to seek the opinion of fishermen regarding the extension of trawling ban period from the existing 47 days to three months,” said Shiju of Beypore. The use of very high horsepower engines is definitely a threat to fish wealth in our coast, he added. Praveen of Puthiyappa Fishing Harbour also echoed that fishing by foreign trawlers along the Kerala Coast is a jolt to the fishermen who have got a poor catch during the pre-trawling months such as May and June. Though authorities claim that they will take all steps for the welfare of the fishing community as they are helping the state earn foreign money, they are showing apathy towards us, he added. The use of high power engines is now quite usual among the fisherfolk of the city too. The expert committee observed that until 2009, the maximum engine power available for fishing boats in India was 240 hp. But the entry of Chinese engines with increased power into the market, gradually increased their capacity to 550 hp. Now the engine dealers and the fishermen are aiming to increase the size and power of the boats owing to compulsion from the crew who wants to reach the fishing ground faster and come back with the catch quickly due to competition.
Imported engines from other countries are also entering the market. Similar extraordinary increase in vessel size and engine capacity is also prevalent in the ring seine fishery, the report said.