Traditional fishermen to seize boats if the ban on trawling is violated . . . .

Ernakulam :The announcement by a group of boat owners to breach the 45-day ban on trawling from 15 June is part of the conspiracy to create conflicts along the shoreline. The Kerala Independent Fishworkers Federation has demanded that the Government take strong measures to ensure that the ban is not breached. The ban is imposed during the monsoon to preserve the resources of the sea, to avoid conflicts in the sea and to protect the livelihoods of the traditional fishermen. The State Government imposes a 45-day ban on trawling as against a 90-day ban.

The boats that enter the sea in violation of the ban would be captured by traditional fishermen using their boats at the sea. Fishworkers would intensify the strike at the sea and the land from 15 June. The Fishworkers Federation would spearhead strikes including harbour siege. The Government will be solely responsible for all conflicts occurring along the coasts if the situation of boats entering the seas in violation of the ban. The Federation demanded that the Government should be prepared to enforce the ban strictly and the Marine Enforcement to be vigilant.

The Central and State Government should take steps to prevent foreign fishing boasts from fishing in our seas. The Federation demanded that the services of the Coast Guard and the Navy should be used for this.

The Kerala Independent Fishworkers Federation has demanded that the State Government should not permit sand mining from the sea coast for it has the potential to worsen the intensity of a tidal surge and also to destruct the environment. The Federation has said strikes against black sand-sand mining will be held in jointly with associating agencies.

The Federation President T.Peter, General Secretary P.P.John, District President K.V.Raphel and District Secretary P.V.Pavithran participated in the press conference.