The Kerala Paramparagatha Matsya Thozhilali Samithi, a traditional fishermen’s union, has appealed to the government to provide artisanal and traditional fishermen a financial package to compensate for the loss of fishing and poor catch over the last six months.
In an appeal to the State government, the fishermen said the near-standstill in the fishing sector had plunged most fishermen into a debt trap. Traditional fishermen manning small boats and even those manning boats requiring a crew strength of around 65 are stranded on the shores because of poor catch.
Fishermen have refused to venture out in the middle of a fish-drought-like condition in which there is no assured catch. Fishing expeditions were costly, largely due to fuel cost and spiralling cost of other inputs, said P.V. Jayan, secretary of the Samithi.
