The government move to amend the Kerala Marine Fishing Regulation Act for conservation of marine fish resources has invited scepticism from fishers and boat operators who feel that the legislation would fail to achieve its objective unless other coastal States were brought on board. The Bill that was referred to the subject committee of the Assembly last week seeks to bring boat building yards and fishing net manufacturing units and dealers under a system of regulation. It also envisages a three-tier system of councils for the management of marine fisheries. The government asserts that the proposed amendment is aimed at curbing juvenile fishing through standardisation of vessels and restrictions on the dimensions of fishing gear, but stakeholder communities are not convinced. The Kerala Fishing Boat Operators’ Association feels that a nationwide standardisation of fishing vessels and gear is imperative if juvenile fishing is to be regulated. The Kerala government has already prescribed the minimum legal size for different species and vessels are penalised heavily even for accidental catch. But that has had no impact on uncontrolled exploitation by vessels from other States, says Joseph Xavier Kalappurackal, general secretary. Harbours lose business He points out that many boats from Kerala preferred to land their catch at Thengapatnam, Colachel or Muttom in Tamil Nadu to avoid being penalised. Harbours in Kerala are losing business even as boats from neighbouring States continue to plunder juvenile fishes. Mr. Joseph feels that the proposed fisheries management councils could declare marine protected areas along the coast for conservation of species. Traditional fish workers admit that some regulations are imperative for conservation but they point out that it will have little impact if the government failed to bring other coastal Sttes on board. All the curbs on juvenile fishing would be rendered meaningless if vessels from elsewhere are allowed to operate in the same waters, says T. Peter, general secretary, National Fishworkers Forum. Ministers to meet Meanwhile, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has taken steps to convene a meeting of fisheries Ministers from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. The consultation is expected to conclude an understanding between the three southern States on restricting juvenile fish catch. Officials said the meeting might take place in September but sources in the fishing sector said the proposal had failed to elicit a positive response from the neighbouring States where most of the juvenile fish catch is transported to fish meal plants catering to the needs of aquaculture farms.