Kochiites might just find fish getting dearer in the coming days. Alarmed at the unrelenting hike in diesel prices, the All Kerala Boat Owners association is now planning to withdraw at least half their fleet in the state. This would mean an increase in the demand on the one hand and a corresponding increase in price, and a reduction in the fuel investment for the boat owners on the other.
“With the current increase in the fuel hike, each boat will suffer an additional cost of Rs 5.5 lakh and the sector as a whole will suffer an additional cost of Rs 165 crore. Since the cost of the operation is borne by the boat owner and the labourer at a cost of 60:40, this heavily eats into the income of ordinary fishermen. It is under this situation that we are now considering the strategy of keeping half of our fleet away from work at specific times. We are hoping to implement this at the start of the lean season starting mid-October,” said the state general secretary of All-Kerala Boat Owners Association Xavier Kallackpurakal.
The trawlers in the state kept away from work on Saturday and Sunday. But by Sunday evening the boats could be seen dotting the sea again. “Complete abstinence from work will not be practical since there is competition from foreign vessels that fish in our oceans. Such foreign vessels are unaffected by the hike in prices since they obtain the fuel at very low prices. Even the boats from the neighbouring districts are a competition since they too get subsidised diesel from their respective state governments,” said Xavier .
The move will now be taken to the Fishermen’s Coordination committee meet which includes both the trawling vessel owners as well as the traditional fishermen. A decision on the partial abstinence from oceans will be taken after the meeting.
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