Kerala's 47-day trawling ban begins Friday

Thiruvananthapuram, June 13 (IANS) An annual trawling ban, starting Friday till 31 July, would be effected along the Kerala coast up to 12 nautical miles into the Arabian sea, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced here Wednesday after the decision was approved by his cabinet.

Monsoon being the spawning season for a large variety of fish, particularly shrimp, the annual trawling restriction was first introduced in Kerala in 1988 as a conservation measure. Since then it has been a routine annual affair.

The southwest monsoon arrived in Kerala June 5, according to officials.

During the ban period, authorities ensure that neither trawlers nor mechanised boats fish in the area demarcated by the government. Those working on mechanised boats, peeling sheds and harbours in the state are entitled to free ration.

However, the 47-day ban may not spell good for Keralites as it could send the already sky high prices of seafood in the state even higher.

Fish is an essential food item on the dining table of Kerala homes.