Boats in Kollam defy Centre’s trawling ban
Around 300 boats set off to catch fish, according to Mr James
KOLLAM: Boat owners on Monday reports that seven boats that ventured beyond 12 nautical miles were sent back by the Coast Guard, enforcing the trawling ban, here on Monday.
“The news spread is mere rumours and there was no such incident of the Coast Guard warning the boatmen and sending them back. We will stop going to the sea only when the ban by the state government starts on June 14,” said M. S. James, president of the Kerala Boat Operators' Association.
Around 300 boats set off to catch fish, according to Mr James. Most of the boats will not go beyond the prescribed boundary in the sea in compliance with the central government’s trawling ban, he said.
As per the Saida Rao Committee report, the central government imposed a ban period of 61 days, while the state government has relaxed this with a 47-day ban.