Minister admits fall in catch but asserts no fish famine situation

THRISSUR: Fisheries minister Mercykutty Amma said that the state was considering a proposal to ban harvesting of 40 more juvenile fishes, but there is no need to declare Kerala as a 'fish famine-hit state' now.
"The catch has been reduced by about 80,000 tonnes over the last couple of years, but there is an increase in the catch in recent weeks," the minister argued. The minister argued that indiscriminate fishing was the main reason for the declining fish wealth in the state.She however clarified that the situation was not as alarming as was being projected by some.
The government has already banned 14 varieties of juvenile fishes. The government would be holding talks with various stakeholders in the fisheries sector in Kochi on Wednesday on extending the ban on juvenile fishing to 40 more varieties. "We want to take them into confidence, before announcing a formal decision,'' she said.
She said the state government was planning to set up 140 modern fish markets across the state. These markets can augment the quality of fish traded and contribute to reducing the exploitation of the fish workers by the middlemen. Ten fish markets would be started in each of the 14 districts, the minister disclosed.
Even though the trade unions welcomed the proposals made by the minister, they expressed dismay over the state government's reluctance to declare Kerala as a 'fish famine state'.
"The LDF leaders know that the fisherfolk in the state are passing through a tough situation because of the dwindling catch," said Charles George of the Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Aikyavedi .
The demand for this was made in the assembly by the Congress leader Hibi Eden, MLA, and this could be the reason why the LDF government was hostile to the proposal, they said.