02-07-2025
Kerala fisheries committee to protest demanding investigation and compensation for ship accident losses
Kochi: Kerala Fisheries Coordination Committee will organise a protest in front of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) at 10am on July 7. The protestors are demanding a comprehensive investigation into ship accidents under court responsibility, compensation for losses to the fisheries sector and workers based on international standards and the appointment of an expert committee to examine the losses to fisheries and the environment.
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The protest will be inaugurated by Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, with committee chairman T N Prathapan presiding. The committee is also demanding the abandonment of plans to bring large corporate ships into the deep-sea sector. Former MLA V Dinakaran will deliver the keynote address. Other speakers include MLA P P Chitharanjan, Jackson Pollayil, Joseph Xavier Kalappurackal and Kerala Fishworkers Aikyavedi Forum president Charles George, among others.
The fishers have been alleging that their fishing nets are getting damaged due to the debris of the shipwreck. They alleged that nets of 10 boats that went fishing from Kochi on Monday were torn, nine parts southwest of the estuary, hitting debris or containers from a ship. "The repair, installation of new nets and a week's work will result in losses worth Rs 10 lakh per boat. Since the sinking of the ship ELSA-3, accidents in the fishing area have been increasing.
Last week, the nets of nine boats were similarly torn west of Thottappally," George said.
