The fishing communities have called upon the Prime Minister to establish a committee dedicated to assessing the availability of fish resources prior to issuing permits to companies and vessels for fishing in the high seas. Paul Rajan Mampilly and Joseph Xavier Kalapurackal, President and General Secretary of the Federation of Fishing Boats and Fishery Industries of Kerala, emphasized that the committee should include experts from the traditional fishing community, who possess unparalleled skill and knowledge for fishing in varying weather conditions.
The government is reportedly in the process of granting permits for high-seas fishing to companies and larger vessels, aiming to exploit the deep-sea fish resources. The current system for issuing permits to existing fishing boats is based on studies conducted before the year 2000 concerning fish availability in marine waters.
Currently, there are approximately 300,000 fishing boats of various sizes operating in the deep sea. If the optimal catch for each boat is considered, only about 96,000 boats would be necessary. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze the volume of fish resources in marine waters and the capability for catch brought to shore before permits are issued to companies and larger vessels.
In light of the absence of recent studies on available resources in seawaters, particularly with changed weather conditions since 2000, it is essential to appoint a committee of experts to thoroughly investigate the existing fish wealth and determine the appropriate number of fishing vessels to be permitted in these waters.
In a related call for government action, the Union urged the establishment of a uniform pricing system for consumer and retail fuel outlets serving fishing boats. Currently, there are two types of diesel outlets in marine areas that charge different rates, resulting in significant price discrepancies. This situation has led to overcrowding and delays in fuel filling, which in turn has prevented many boats from launching for fishing during early hours due to overcrowding.
Published on May 5, 2026.
