52-day ban on fishing activities in Kerala from June 9 midnight
Trawling operations by mechanised boats along the Kerala coast will come to a standstill with the 52-day ban on fishing activities taking effect from midnight tonight. The ban will remain in force till the 31st of next month, July.
More than 4000 fishing boats operating from the State’s harbours will cease fishing activities during the ban period. Traditional inboard fishing boats have been exempted from the purview of the ban. The State government has instructed fishing vessels from other States to leave the Kerala coast before midnight.
Round-the-clock control rooms have been set up in coastal districts. The fishers will be provided free rations during the ban period.
The State government has been enforcing the annual exercise since 1988, to lessen the impact of fishing activities on marine ecology. The ban period is designed to coincide with fish breeding season, thus contributing to the replenishment of marine fisheries resources.