Kerala fishers appeal for more caution as lockdown brings misery on fishing sector

Secretary of the Samithy P. V. Jayan suggested that even the opening of the harbours, even partially, as it is happening now, would help the chances of the COVID-19 spread.

The Kerala Paramparagatha Matsya Thozhilali Samithy, representing fishers in the traditional sector, has called on the fishing community to impose upon itself more restrictions and to follow social-distancing norms to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as Ernakulam is seeing massive surge in the pandemic cases. Secretary of the Samithy P. V. Jayan suggested that even the opening of the harbours, even partially, as it is happening now, would help the chances of the COVID-19 spread. He said that fishing boats, of different sizes, manned by two to 45 people are now venturing out, even on a limited level. When they come back to the shore, there is difficulty in following the COVID-19 protocol. At the same time, there is a crisis-like situation in the inland fisheries sector brought about both by the spread of COVID-19 and the deteriorating condition of the backwaters around Kochi. P. N. Babu, convenor of the Vembanad Kayal Samrakshana Samithy, forum for protection of the Vembanad backwaters, said that the backwaters were shrinking. There is a sharp drop in catch, which has accentuated the crisis facing inland fishers in the wake of the spread of the pandemic.