KOCHI: The Marine Enforcement Wing of the Kerala Fisheries Department has decided to appoint additional sea guards in the district for assisting the enforcement of trawling ban.
At the meeting convened on Friday to discuss the enforcement activities to be carried out during the 50-day ban period, officials of the Fisheries Department, Marine Enforcement Wing, District Administration, Navy, Police Department and representatives of the fishermen community participated.
According to Marine Enforcement Wing circle inspector K M Sajeevan, the 50-day trawling ban announced by the State Government would come into effect on June 14 midnight. “This year, the number of sea guards will be increased for ensuring effective enforcement of the ban and rescue operations. For this purpose, we will take three mechanised boats on rent to conduct patrolling activities.
The boats will be based at Munambam and Vypeen. We have also decided to increase the number of sea guards this year. Currently, we have 18 experts who would conduct rescue operations in the high seas,” he said. The control room of the Marine Enforcement Wing has already started functioning. The Fisheries Department is also planning to seek assistance of the Navy, Coast Guard and Coastal Police to enforce the trawling ban in the district.
Over the last five days, the Marine Enforcement Wing conducted two rescue operations in the district, after two small vessels capsized due to rough weather off the coast.
In 2014, 653 fishermen were rescued by the Department during the ban period. Last year, 15 boats capsized during the ban period.
The district administration has decided to provide free ‘ration’ to the fishermen community during the ban period, with the assistance of the Civil Supplies Dept.