Kerala’s fishing sector is in deep turmoil following the attempts to curb juvenile fishing’. In November 2017, the Kerala fisheries department had expanded the ban on fishing juvenile fish. The threat to coastal ecosystems and sustainable fishing because of juvenile fishing had been raised multiple times over the years. The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) had recommended similar actions in order to protect the depleting stock of fish in India’s coastal waters. The issue had been deeply divisive within the fishing community on class lines with the traditional fishers demanding a strict enforcement of the ban on juvenile fishing and the mechanised fishers claiming undue harassment by the government in the name of regulation. The simmering tension blew up early last month when the Kerala fisheries department began confiscating trawlers that had violated the ban on fishing juvenile fish’. On February 3, when the fisheries department officials confiscated two trawlers in the Munnambam harbour at Vypin, Kerala, a mob of 200 men led by boat owners attacked the officials, released the boats, dumped the fish in the sea and left. The two sea guards suffered minor injuries while the property on the fishing station, including an information board, was damaged. Following this altercation and police action, the Kerala fishing boat owners association announced protest actions if the government did not stop confiscating boats and levying fines. But traditional fishers, who use non-mechanised modes of fishing, led by the Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Aikiya Vedi and National Fishworkers Forum, demanded the implementation of the ban to protect sustainable fishing. With no resolution to the issue, the mechanised boat owners began an indefinite strike on February 16. While the issue of juvenile fishing and confiscation of boats was the trigger, the demands also included concessions on fuel, compensation for damage from cyclone Ockhi and other issues. With the concerned minister being indisposed, the boat owners suspended their strike after a week. Though the strike has been lifted, the protests and counter-protests have continued in Kerala, keeping the fishing community on the edge. The traditional fishers went on a three-day protest last week, demanding among other issues, a strict enforcement of the ban on juvenile fishing. The issue also was the central theme in a more recent protest march by traditional fishers. On the other hand, the mechanised boat operators have warned of further protests and strikes if the issue is not resolved amicably. Some have suggested a joint meeting between the three interested parties to bring forth a consensus as was done in 2015. It is important that such a consensus is reached to end the present conflict within the sector, but it is also essential that coastal ecosystems and the sustainability of the fishing in Indian waters are not compromised at the table…