Kollam: Petrol price hike affects fisheries

KOLLAM: The fuel price rise has hit the fisheries industry in the state hard. The small scale boat owners find the business least profitable with high fuel costs. The fishermen want the government to intervene and control prices.

“Most of the local fishing boats use kerosene as fuel, and they consume about 150 litres a day. The Matsyafed is giving a subsidy of 140 litres per month for boats having a capacity of 9.9 hp and 190 litres for 25 hp. The 9.9 hp boats get 250 litres, and the 25 hp, 600 litres without subsidy,” Subhash Kalavara, Kerala Pradesh Anubandha Matsya Thozhilali Congress president told DC.

"An ordinary fishing boat requires some 180-250 litres of kerosene per day for its operation. There is also a black market providing kerosene for Rs 78 per litre while the market rate on Thursday was Rs 79.85."

The fishermen say they didn't get the fuel subsidy for the last six months. Many boats lay anchored here owing to high fuel prices. Meanwhile, the National Fishworkers Forum is meeting in Goa to discuss the issue. 

“We'll decide on protests to be carried out at the meeting on Sunday,” said T. Peter, NFF general secretary. According to local fishers, they need a sum of Rs 18,000 to 20,000 per day for operating a fishing boat. They also demand Matsyafed to provide sufficient kerosene required for operating the boats.