Udupi;Nov 25 : Addressing the press reporters in press meet held on Nov 25,Monday in Udupi press club,Dayananda Kundar,president of fishermen deep sea trawl boat association said in his address that uniform regulations to be adopted to all the fishing trades by the union government. He confirms that what we are doing is Bheem trawl not bull trawl and one way everybody is doing fishing mechanically.
He also said that bull trawl fishing is being done by foreign trawlers. This trawler boat is of 10,000 HP capacity engine boat.Net is also of giant size. In this type of fishing net will spread from the bottom of water level to surface of the water.In this type of fishing, fish’s food and eggs will get destroyed.
Continuing his talk he said that what we are doing is Bheem trawl fishing with the capacity of the boat is 350 HP and net’s size will in smaller size. In this type of fishing, net will be in the midst of the water. This type of fishing will be done in the beginning of the fishing season for one or two months. Most of the fishes in this type catch will be ‘Bondas and Pambols’.
He further said that if we don’t catch in Bheem trawl, fish will migrate. In this type of fishing food of fishes, eggs will not get destroyed. The catch of this type will be exported to foreign countries and thereby earn foreign exchange for country
The marine products export development authority, Cochin, a government undertaking is encouraging this type of fishing by organizing awareness campaign across the country.
Traditional fishing since ancient period like, rampani, kairampani, pattabale, maaribale, kanthubale, beesubale etc is diminishing ever since Persian fishing has started. In the beginning, the size of the persean boat was in bigger size with more HP power and last longing but now over a period of time, due to modernization of technology, it has become 8 mm net sized much smaller than the one which was in use before. Since in this type, only fishes of smaller size can be caught, progeny of fishes has become diminished.
Besides he also said that some times Persian boat fishermen by netting at big groups of fishes catch more fishes according to their capacity and throw remaining fishes into the sea and there by polluting the sea water, resulting migration of the fishes. Due to variation in climatic condidtion, catch also will varies sometimes more and sometimes less in Bheem trawl fishing.This changes will also applicable to Persian boats, he added
Therefore, responding to the allegation by Persian boat operators Gopal Kundar, honorary president of Malpe fishermen deep sea trawl boat association, vice president Kishore. D.Suvarna, general secretary Gopal.R.K and Vittal Karkera said that changes in catches are obvious and for all these kind of changes it is not wise to blame Bheem trawl fishermen for their short comings, he added.
Decisions taken by deep sea trawl boat association on 23.11.2013 emergency special general body meeting:
*Without taking into confidence Bheem trawl fishermen, associations, if government ban the Bheem trawl abruptly a fierce protest will be staged.
*Complete ban should be imposed on mechanized fishing for 50 days during monsoon.
* In order to save the progeny of the fishes, below 30mm sized net should be completely prohibited.
*As local fish mill owners are buying fishes coming from other states at higher prices and local fishes at less prices, local port boat fishermen are incurring heavy losses, fishes coming from other states should be completely prohibited.
