To conserve marine fish resources, the cabinet has decided to impose a trawling ban on Kerala’s coasts for 52 days
The state of Kerala is going ahead to impose a 52-days-long trawling ban on its coasts, starting from Wednesday, June 09.
The decision was taken by the government authorities during a cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) Kerala stated on Wednesday.
The CM’s Office said that the step was taken as a measure to conserve the marine fish resources in the coasts of Kerala.
However, the ban of 52 days is longer compared to the usual 45 days. The latest ban, as per the CMO Kerala, has been raised to 52 days after “considering the demand raised by traditional fisherfolk.”
“As a measure to conserve marine fish resources, the cabinet has decided to impose a trawling ban on Kerala’s coasts for 52 days, from midnight of 9 June to 31 July,” the CMO Kerala tweeted, adding, “The ban has been raised from the usual 45 days considering the demand raised by traditional fisherfolk.
Pertinently, trawling is a method of fishing that involves pulling a fishing net through the water behind one or more boats. The net used for trawling is called a trawl. The boats that are used for trawling are called trawlers or draggers.
Although trawling today is heavily regulated in some nations, it remains the target of many protests by environmentalists. Environmental concerns related to trawling refer to two areas: the lack of selectivity and the physical damage which the trawl does to the seabed.
Trawling is controversial because of its environmental impacts. Because bottom trawling involves towing heavy fishing gear over the seabed, it can cause large-scale destruction on the ocean bottom, including coral shattering, damage to habitats and removal of seaweed.
These impacts result in decreases in species diversity and ecological changes towards more opportunistic organisms. The destruction has been likened to clear-cutting in forests.