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Udupi : Karnataka State Traditional Fishermen’s Organization staged protest against the fishing in the EEZ beyond territorial waters by bull or pair trawling, use or installation or operation of surface or submerged artificial lights/LED lights, fish light attractors or any other light equipment with or without generator on mechanized fishing vessel or motorized fishing craft for trawling, purse-seining and gill netting operations in the EEZ beyond territorial water. The protest held near the DC office, Manipal here on Monday, 12^th March, 2018.

Addressing the protestors, the leaders of the organization said that traditional fishing profession by country boats is prevailed since several centuries. In this profession, our district fishermen depends on traditional fishing like Rani net, Gill net, Kairampani, Patte net, kanthu net etc., Due to mechanized fishing the traditional fishing decreasing in coastal districts. Some of the fishermen due to modernization are using outboard engines for the fishing. Thousands of fishermen depend on traditional fishing in coastal Karnataka, they said.

They also demanded the release of subsidized kerosene for April and May. The Union and state governments had banned unscientific fishing. But this order was not being implemented properly in Udupi district. All the speakers urged the district administration to strict enforcement of the ban. The government has been providing subsidized kerosene for the boats with outboard engines. But there was no financial provision for subsidized kerosene for April and May. The subsidized kerosene should be provided through the department of Food and Civil Supplies.

The mechanized boats were sometimes being used for fishing near the coast, and this was creating problems for the traditional boats. The mechanized boats should be directed to do their fising well away from the coast, they said.

Priyanka Mary Francis, Deputy Commissioner who arrived at the striking fishermen and said that the department of Fisheries already along with the police had seized 60 generators from mechanized boats which were being used for fishing with lights and cancelled their permits. She promised action would be taken on the other demands of country boats fishermen, she said.

Karnataka State Traditional Fishermen’s Organization leaders like Madanmohan Uppunda, Somashekar Uppunda, Naveen Chandra Karkera, Praveen Shreeyan, Manju Billava  and Raghupathy Bhat former MLA were spoke during the protest. DC attended along with officials of the Department of Fisheries, Police Officials and Coast Guards police.