Fishing harbours and landing centres in the state are set to become a beehive of activity with the 45-day monsoon trawling ban ending on Monday. Around 750 boats set out to sea after Monday midnight from different harbours in and around Kochi. Though boats set out to the sea only after midnight, harbours and premises became live on Monday morning itself with boats lying in the queue for loading ice, fuel and other necessary materials required for the stay at sea. The shops around harbours which remained closed or were not fully functional were busy with customers. The Fisheries Department made colour code mandatory as directed by the Union Ministries of Home Affairs and Defence. As per guidelines, the boats’ hull should be painted dark blue while the wheel house should be painted orange. Almost all boats, which underwent maintenance during the trawling ban period have been painted as per the colour code. The Fisheries Department has asked its officers not to renew the licence or permission, if the colour code is not followed. Security agencies were told to seize such boats and cancel their registration and permission. All-Kerala Fishing Boat Operators Association general secretary Joseph Xavier Kalappurakkal said all boats in Kerala were already painted as per the guideline. He said the present colour code does not serve any purpose as the colouring was unscientific. The colours suggested for fishing boats should have been light shades so that it would be easier to identify during dark light. The present colours are not visible even during day time. However, the Boat Operators Association will abide by the rules, he said.