KOCHI: As the monsoon trawling ban comes to an end on July 30, Fishing Boat Operators Association has come up with an allegation violation of norms was rampant across the state during the 45-day trawling ban. The boat owners said law enforcing agencies ignored the illegal fishing.
“Traditional fishermen were using pelagic net and mid-water trawl nets for fishing along the coasts of Kerala. We have reliable information fishermen in Ponnani region were using pelagic net which is banned. A major portion of the catch was small fish under minimum legal size, which is a violation of norms on catching juvenile fish,” said Joseph Xavier Kalappurakkal, general secretary, All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators’ Association.