KOCHI:The Kerala coast and this part of the Arabian sea are all set for turbulent days ahead, with the fisherfolk resolutely opposing the 61-day uniform fishing ban that came into effect on Sunday midnight.
The fishermen organisations have reiterated their decision to breach the fishing ban imposed by the Central Government and to ‘strongly react’ if the Coast Guard tries to deprive them of their right to fish.
“We have every right to fish in the territorial waters of the country. The government that protects foreign fishing vessels is trying to prevent citizens of the country from fishing, which is their right. We will strongly react if the Coast Guard tries to stop us,” said Kerala Fisheries Coordination Committee chairman V Dinakaran. “Office-bearers of the coordination committee have warned that the organisations under it would stage protests in the sea and on the coast. Trawl boats and the boats of fishermen will continue fishing, ignoring the Centre’s unilateral ban,” he said.
“Our boats have already gone into the sea for fishing, and will be back only on June 14, just before the annual trawling ban implemented by the State Government begins,” said All-Kerala Fishing Boat Operators’ Association secretary Joseph Xavier Kalappurakkal.