The Marine Enforcement Squad has stepped up its patrolling on the Kozhikode coastline following a fishing boat from Beypore found running a pleasure trip for around 30 persons, including women and children. Fisheries Department officials point out that the Fisheries Act prohibits the use of fishing boats for other purposes. The coastal police say many boat owners are ignorant of this and take friends and family members for joyrides in the sea. Many of them do not even carry life-saving accessories, they say. We have already placed a request before the District Collector to improve the staff strength of the Marine Enforcement Squad so that they can easily keep track of violations in the sector, says Fisheries Deputy Director (in-charge) B.K. Sudheer Krishnan. He says the department is in need of the service of at least 10 persons to effectively coordinate sea patrolling. The coastal police say the use of fishing boats for any other purpose should get prior clearance from the Fisheries Department. In case of finding illegal operations, such boats will be impounded on the spot and will be released only after the remittance of the fine amount, they add. The fishing boat, intercepted by the Coast Guard last Wednesday during an unauthorised trip, was released only after the remittance of a fine of Rs. 5,000.