Kozhikode: Large-scale transporting of fish for fertiliser companies elsewhere is underway in the state as the farm sector in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu turns to bio-manures in a big way of late.
The DC team that visited the Beypore harbour witnessed tonnes of fish varieties netted solely for the biofertilizer industry. N.K. Velayudhan, who is engaged in the fish trade in Beypore, said the trend was catching up.
Earlier only spoilt or rotten fish waste was loaded for the fertiliser industry, but now some boats fish exclusively for the fertiliser industry,” he said. “For sale, we need some particular varieties of fish, but for fertiliser, anything will go.”
More than three hundred boxes of fish, emanating stench, was kept open on the floor with hoards of birds taking their share. Two trucks from Mangalore were ready to load the stuff.
The man in charge of the consignment said they used to collect the fish for various industrial units from Beypore. However, Greens are worried about the trend that would reduce the fish wealth.
Kerala River Protection Council leader T.V. Rajan said similar was the case with other coastal cities of the state.“We have already invited the attention of the authorities to the issue,” he told DC.
“Netting fish for fertiliser industry is banned, and the ongoing fishing, as well as transporting, are illegal.”
