Security lapse and unhygienic physical conditions at major fishing harbours of Kerala are posing a serious threat not only to the coastal security, but also to the export trade of seafood items.
With Kochi becoming a major transshipment hub, free plying of hundreds of boats has become a cause for concern.
In view of this, the Southern Naval Command recently recommended to the Kerala government to ban fishing in the two nautical mile radius of the upcoming LNG terminal at Puthuvype, near here. The terminal is located in one of the major fishing zones along the Kerala coast.
However, local fishermen, mechanised boat owners and workers are protesting the move since it affects their livelihood. Earlier, the Navy had banned fishing in one nautical mile radius of the single buoy mooring in the outer sea of Vypin Island.
Hundreds of fishing boats operate from Thoppumpadi, Munambam – the two major harbours in Ernakulam district. Besides, there are a number of medium fish landing centres like Murukkumpadam. Along the coastal belt, there are around 40 major fishing harbours and fish landing centres.
Over the last 2-3 years, around 50 Sri Lankan boats trespassing the Indian territory were captured by the Coast Guard. Unfortunately, there is no checking system for mechanised boats at these harbours. There is also no dedicated wing in Kerala police for coastal protection. Though the government had mooted the idea of a separate Coastal Police, it is yet to take off.
A fisheries department official said these harbours operate without valid licences from the central government or from agencies like the Marine Products Export Development Authority (Mpeda).
At Murukkumpadam, near here, there are four mini-harbours privately owned and operated. Some 50 mechanised fishing boats land daily without any security check. The harbour is also very close to the International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (ICTT), Petronet LNG terminal, Cochin port and Cochin Shipyard. This is also the case at Munambam.
KM Ashique, former secretary of Kerala Fishing Boat Operators Association, said there were around 4,000 registered mechanised boats in the state and thrice this number operate without valid licences from the fisheries department and Mpeda.
Unhygienic condition
Moreover, the hygienic conditions in these ports are very poor with platforms full of fish waste and dirty water. Since these are owned and operated by private persons, official intervention is limited.
A major chunk of Ribbon fish, Red Fin fish, squid etc for export is being collected from here. This is widely used for making Zurumi to export to the EU markets and Japan.
KM Jusse, a commission agent based in Kochi said workers wear gloves and boots only when overseas delegates visit the harbours. That time, the landing centres would be clean but once the visit is over, the pathetic condition returns, he added.
Fish, unloaded from mechanised boats and country crafts, is piled up at the platforms and kept in the open where birds and other animals roam around. These are loaded in trucks after 12 -24 hours and transported to processing centres in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The sewage facility too is extremely poor.
The fisheries department official said Mpeda was responsible for the safety standards and cleanliness of the harbours. The department was implementing development initiatives at these harbours. However, he admitted periodic checking on safety standards was not often, but only when foreign delegates visit.
Bosco Devassy, a boat worker, said spitting and smoking near fish stock was common. Though Mpeda issues catch certificates, which are essential for export, this is done without much verification and checking of the vessels.
Fish items are being procured from Kerala and around 40 per cent of the total export is being carried out in the state.
An official of a Kochi-based export house told Business Standard the landing centres still did not have basic amenities like clean toilets and water.
