Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Oct 1: If the present trend of rising petrol and diesel prices is not brought under control, it may severely affect the fishing industry of the coastal region. Many boats have been already anchored in the jetty as they are unable to bear the high cost of the fuel that is required to carry on fishing.

If the rising fuel prices are hampering the business of large-scale fishing, the country boats which run on kerosene oil are on the verge of completely stalling their business due to the shortage as well as no-availability of subsidy on kerosene. Traditional fishermen were given kerosene on a subsidized price for the last many years. However, due to the change of Public Distribution System (PDS) of the central government in which the use of kerosene was strictly limited to domestic cooking purpose only. This increased the woes of country boat fishermen.

Traditional fishing suffers the most

State government used to supply kerosene at a subsidized rate to the traditional fishermen in the last two years. However, the fishermen have not received the same this year. More than 50% of the traditional fishermen have stopped fishing for the same reason. If the government does not wake up and supply kerosene at a subsidized price, then the traditional fishing will, for sure, stop within a few days.

The government is asking the traditional fishermen to convert their engines from kerosene to diesel due to the non-availability of kerosene and also for the fact the central PDS policy does not allow the kerosene to be used for any purpose other than cooking. However, the cost of converting a kerosene engine to diesel one is about Rs 1.75 lac. In addition, the maintenance of a diesel engine will be costlier compared to an engine that runs on kerosene. The traditional fishermen, who use country boats, feel that they will be unable to bear the high maintenance cost of the diesel engine.

Fishing organizations to hold a meeting

A meeting of the representatives of the West Coast States' Fishermen Associations is organized on Monday, October 1 at Goa in order to discuss the issues and demands of the mechanical and traditional boat fishermen and to take further action in this matter. Karnataka Coastal Fishermen's' Action Committee also held an emergency meeting on Sunday, September 30 to discuss the issues faced. The office bearers of the association will participate in the meeting that will be held in Goa.

Manohar Boloor, president of Coastal Fishermen's Action Committee, says "Due to the incessant rise in the diesel and petrol prices, it has become virtually impossible to carry on the business of fishing. Many of the fishing boats have stopped fishing and are anchored in the jetty. The government should respond to our situation and save the fisheries industry. The meeting of West Coast States' Fishermen's Association will discuss this matter in Goa."

Subhaschandra Kanchan, president of Gill Net Fishermen's Association, said, "The traditional country boat fishing is on the verge of getting extinct completely due to the stoppage of subsidized kerosene. The livelihood of lacs of fishermen who are directly and indirectly involved in the traditional fishing is in danger. Government has to supply subsidized kerosene as soon as possible and save the traditional country boat fishing,"