Various law enforcement agencies, including the Marine Enforcement, the Kerala Police and the Indian Coast Guard, have geared up to ensure the smooth implementation of the trawl ban. Official sources said that around 150 personnel from various agencies had been deployed for security at the Vizhinjam fishing harbour alone.
K.M. Sajeev, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Marine Enforcement, said regular patrolling would be undertaken during the 47-day ban period.
The assistance of the Coastal police and the local police had been sought to support the 60-odd personnel of the Marine Enforcement in the State.
“Control rooms and patrol boats have been readied at 14 centres, including the five fisheries stations at Vizhinjam, Neendakara, Vypeen, Beypore and Kannur. The services of sea guards and other employees of the Fisheries Department have also been roped in to boost monitoring,” he added.
78-km coastline
While the district has a coastline which is 78 kilometres long, not many mechanized boats operated from the region. However, a section of fish workers have alleged that bottom trawling has been undertaken during the trawling ban periods in the past under the guise of fishing using the traditional vessels.
