The group of fisheries ministers from south Indian States, who met here on Saturday and Sunday, has made a joint appeal to the Union government to allow fishermen to go beyond the present 12 nautical mile limit to exploit fish resources, Minister for Fisheries J. Mercykutty Amma has said.
They also agreed to seek the Union government to step in to impose a uniform trawling ban period for the entire country.
Talking to reporters here on Sunday, Ms. Mercykutty said the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) had carried out a study on the impact of the current practice of annual trawling ban. However, the ban period could be reorganised to help Indian fishermen optimally exploit the resources available to them. In this regard, a Central government action would be welcome, she said.
The ministers appealed to the Union government to avoid imposing road tax on diesel sold to fishing boats. They felt that kerosene should be sold cheaper to fishermen.
Ms. Mercykutty said that fisheries cooperatives and traditional fishermen should be equipped and trained to exploit deep sea resources. The Union government should come forward to provide financial aid for the purpose, she said. She highlighted the demand by the group of ministers that the per unit cost of deep sea fishing vessels fixed by the Centre be raised from the present ₹80 lakh to ₹150 lakh. The Centre provides 50 per cent subsidy on the per unit cost.
The south Indian States decided to adopt square mesh for trawl net cod ends as has been adopted in Kerala. The step is to considerably reduce juvenile catch during fishing operations. It was also decided that both boat and net-making units should be compulsorily registered.