Commuters were stuck for more than two hours at the busy Kalamukku Junction that connects mainland Kochi to the islands lying to the north of the backwaters through Goshree bridge on Friday evening. The traffic was disrupted as the traditional fishermen blocked the route, protesting against govt apathy for failing to act against trawling boats that use banned pelagic trawls (nets). Though the protestors were removed from the place, it led to a heavy traffic block for hours.
The fishermen also laid siege to the shipping channel for 10 minutes. The traditional fishermen earlier in the day had caught two trawling boats that used pelagic nets in the sea for catching fish and handed them over to the fisheries dept. Accepting their demand the fisheries department director has decided to hold a meeting with traditional fishermen on Saturday.
Fishermen had taken custody of boats Star Meen and St Ann, operating from Munambam and Vypeen, while fishing within 12 nautical miles, which is the state’s territorial waters where traditional fishermen are allowed to do fishing.
“Fishing with pelagic nets is banned by both state and Union govt. But thousands of fishing boats use the banned nets on Kerala coasts, which have become barren now due to exploitation by the boats with pelagic nets. Each mechanised boat anchors kilometres apart and draws the pelagic net holding each end of it.
They would haul the net through the depth of the water and lift it with a huge quantity of fish, including the juvenile fishes, leading to exploitation. We had informed the fisheries department that once the trawl ban is over, these boats with pelagic nets would venture into the sea and exploit the marine resources. But our demand to rein in those boats fell on deaf ears, forcing us to take the drastic steps,” said P V Jayan, general secretary of Kerala Parambaragatha Matsya Thozhilali Samithi.
Jayan said four boats were found fishing with banned nets within 12 nautical miles. Though they chased after them, two managed to speed away. Angered over the apathy of the govt, the traditional fishermen blocked Kalamukku Junction from 2pm onwards, blocking all vehicular movement except ambulances and emergency vehicles. They withdrew it by 4pm after the fisheries deputy director of Ernakulam zone reached the spot. The fishermen will have a meeting with the department director on Saturday morning.