THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Assembly Committee on Environment has mooted a registration system for fishermen and limit Ockhi-like disaster relief assistance to registered persons. The committee asked to examine whether the software developed by the National Informatics Centre titled ‘real craft’ can be used for the registration.
Linking benefits with the registration system is to ensure that all fishermen venturing into the sea are registered with the system, says the committee report tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday. Ockhi victims who lost boat and nets will be given replacement. Those who suffer from physical or mental illness owing to the disaster will be given alternative livelihood assistance.
The committee has suggested to form regional fisheries councils under Fisheries and Ports departments to prepare a database on fishermen going to the sea everyday. Accurate data will help in effective rescue operations in case of an emergency.
Mobile phone-based weather alert system is another recommendation. Only boats that have stability fitness certificates and those which will not submerge in water should be used for fishing. Every boat must have an emergency tool kit.
Fishing boats should be built in centres recognised by the Fisheries Department to ensure that they adhere to international standards. A gear marking system should be introduced for fishing nets to avoid dumping of old nets in the sea. Use of inboard motor should be encouraged.
Equipment for emergency communication like satellite phone and identification system should be made compulsory in boats. Short-term training programmes should be organised for the fishermen to use the safety gear.