[Reader-list] Conspiracy to shift annual trawling ban period alleged

[T Peter]

Conspiracy to shift annual trawling ban period alleged
Staff Reporter :Date:17/02/2010 URL:
http://www.thehindu.com/2010/02/17/stories/2010021753120300.htm
>From June-August to November-December
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‘Move is unscientific’
‘Threat to livelihood of traditional fishermen’
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KOLLAM: T. Peter, State president of the Kerala Swatanthra Matsya
Thozhilali Federation, has alleged that a conspiracy has been hatched
to shift the annual trawling ban period from the usual June-August
months to November-December. He was inaugurating a dharna by fishermen
in front of the collectorate here on Tuesday demanding hike in
kerosene allocation for fishing activities.
Mr. Peter said that as per information received by him a Central
government establishment concerned with the fisheries sector was
conducting a study to enable the authorities shift the trawling ban
period to November-December. The move was to serve the interests of a
handful of big time operators from the mechanised sector, he alleged.
‘Unscientific’
He said that the move would be strongly opposed by the traditional
fishermen. Shifting the trawling ban to November-December was not only
unscientific but harmful to the livelihood of traditional fishermen.
Mr. Peter said that with more houses being electrified in the State
there was an excess stock of kerosene with the government and this
should be diverted to the traditional fishing sector. Earlier the
government had allocated 300 litres of kerosene per month for a 9 HP
outboard engine. It was later slashed to 129 litres per month.
More kerosene sought
He called upon the government to hike allocation of kerosene to
traditional fishermen and added that move to hike price of kerosene
would be opposed. The dharna was led by federation leaders A. Andrews,
P.P. John, S. James and S. Francis.