Trawling ban from midnight

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 47-day trawling ban by mechanised fishing boats during monsoon in the state would come into force from Tuesday midnight. The ban will be in force within 12 nautical miles, that is around 22.22 km from the shoreline, till July 31.Fishermen rendered jobless during the period would be given free ration.Fishermen would also get financial assistance under the Fishworkers Welfare Scheme. Trawling is banned in the state in view of the breeding period of different species of fishes during monsoon. The Irrigation Department had been asked to submit a detailed report on constructing permanent wave breakers to check sea erosion in coastal belts.  The government had also sanctioned Rs 2 crore to take up immediate steps to control sea erosion in various parts of the state. The monsoon trawling ban was introduced in 1988 to help unhindered breeding of fish during the rainy season. The monsoon season is breeding season for nearly 300 species along the west coast of India.  The traditional fishworkers have been exempted from the trawling ban through the Kerala Monsoon Fishery (Pelagic) Protection Bill 2007. The Act enables them to catch pelagic fish such as oil sardine and mackerel in the territorial waters of the state stretching 12 nautical miles. However, they are permitted to carry out fishing only in the territorial waters and catch only pelagic fish.The law was enacted to overcome the restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court which wanted governments of coastal states to ban trawling by mechanised boats as well as fishing by country craft using engines of more than 9.9 HP during monsoon.In Kerala, the trawling ban began in 1988 on a recommendation by the Dr A Balakrishnan Nair Committee.