Kerala: Fishermen's protest intensifies

KOLLAM: The ongoing indefinite protest by the All-Kerala Fishing Boat Operators' Association has intensified resulting in a hike in fish prices. The traditional fishermen in Kollam are also on a three-day protest from Monday demanding subsidies on kerosene supplied by the government. The traditional fishermen under the joint protest council conducted a march towards the Matsyafed kerosene bunk at Thangasserion Tuesday.

The joint protest council has raised various demands, including strict action against catching juvenile fish and cancellation of the order to present identity cards for supplying kerosene from the state civil supplies. The traditional fishermen have also demanded a hike in the quantity of kerosene to 300 litres as fishing lasts for several days in the sea. Some 3,800 fishing boats across the state are taking part in the indefinite protest called by the fishing boat operators' association.  

Opposing the demand by traditional fishermen against catching juvenile fish, the boat operators' association has demanded implementation of the directives by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) on the minimum legal size (MLS) of fish species. The authorities slap heavy fine on the boats that catch small fishes disregarding the norm that they could be penalised only if the juveniles are more than 50 percent of the entire catch, they alleged.