The Indian Meteorological Department has warned fishermen from foraying into the sea for the next four days..reports Asian Lite News
Fishermen and fishing boat owners of Kerala are concerned after the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned fishermen from foraying into the sea for the next four days commencing from July 31.
Incidentally, the 52-day trawling ban which started on June 9 is to end on the midnight of Sunday, and around 3,600 boats including long liners were planning to venture into the seas.
“The IMD failed to issue properly and timely alert during the Ockhi cyclone leading to the loss of lives of several fishermen. After this, the IMD has been issuing frequent weather warnings leading to a blanket ban on fishing activities,” All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators Association General Secretary, Joseph Xavier Kalappurackal told IANS.
He said that in 2020 fishermen were allowed to fish only on 53 days and in 2021 only 52 fishing days were made available.
Kalappurackal added that fishermen would go to the sea from Sunday night if the Navy, Coast Guard, and the state fisheries department wouldn’t intervene.
He also said that during the initial days after the trawling ban, fishermen are hopeful of a good catch and that rains would have brought nutrients to the sea attracting a large volume of fish.
“Another major problem encountered by the fishermen in the state is the presence of fibre boats of Tamil Nadu on the Kerala coast. Many of these boats were present in the water during the trawler ban period,” Kalappurackal asserted.
Antony Joseph, a fisherman from Vypeen told IANS that he and his team of seven fishermen have made all preparations and were expecting a good catch from Sunday late night onwards but the warning from the IMD has dampened their spirits. “We don’t know how we will make up the 52-day ban period if we are not allowed to venture into the sea at least from Sunday night onwards.”
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram districts.
According to the IMD, these districts will receive heavy to isolated rain in the four-day period.
Meanwhile, Kottayam and Idukki districts are under an orange alert for heavy rain on Monday.
The IMD said Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts will receive heavy to very heavy rain on Tuesday.
Although the state witnessed heavy rain this month, there is still a net 26 per cent deficit since the southwest monsoon was weak in June.
Despite the rain deficit, the dams have more than 60 per cent storage and are expected to be full when the southwest monsoon withdraws by September 30.
5 dead in heavy rains
At least five people were killed due to the heavy rain in Kerala.
While two deaths were reported on Sunday, a car while overtaking a bus on Monday, lost control and fell into a overflowing canal in Pathanamthitta district and moved in the waters for over 15 minutes before the fire department officials recovered the vehicle.
While two people were already dead by the time they reached a hospital, a third peron died later.
On Sunday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that heavy rain would lash Kerala for four days and issued a yellow alert for Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram districts.
Following the IMD alert,the district authorities have been given the responsibility to declare holidays for educational institutions in vulnerable areas.