With the 61-day fishing holiday in the exclusive economic zone along the West Coast commencing on Wednesday, motorised mechanical vessels (trawlers and purse seine ) have been berthed in their respective harbours along the State’s coast. There are 3,800 large fishing vessels in the State, with 1,762 in Udupi district, 1,095 in Uttara Kannada district and 961 in Dakshina Kannada district. All these vessels go on long-haul fishing, ranging from a week to a fortnight, depending upon their capacity as well as the fish catch. The uniform fishing holiday of 61 days came into practise last year following the intervention of the Union government, along the East and West coasts of the country. West Coast States Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat had different periods of holidays. While Kerala had about 47 days, parts of Karnataka had 57 and 47, and Goa had about 50 days. Besides affecting fish breeding, this practise used to give room to altercations between fishermen from neighbouring States at times. The holiday, however, would not be applicable to traditional boats, including those fitted with outboard engines up to 10 hp capacity which undertake fishing in the territorial waters, as per the government order. Vasudev Boloor, vice-president of National Fish Workers Forum and office-bearer of Karnataka Karavali Meenugarara Kriya Samithi, told The Hindu that the samithi has come to an understanding to allow all traditional boats fitted with outboard engines to engage in fishing, irrespective of the engine capacity. The samithi comprises representatives from all sections of fishermen, including large vessels. It was felt that those depending upon conventional boats come from weaker sections and hence, be allowed to engage in fishing during the monsoon. Moreover, workers of large vessels find employment during the monsoon in these conventional vessels, which have engines up to 25 hp capacity, he said. There are 7,200 such motorised, non-mechanical vessels in the three coastal districts. A majority of them operate on kerosene, each vessel having a quota of 200 l per month. On the other hand, there are 8,200 conventional boats that operate purely on manual power in these districts.
2016, The Hindu