The fishing boat operators are urging a reconsideration of the recent order that significantly increased the license fees for small boats. These boats, crucial for the livelihoods of thousands of small-time fishermen in the State, are facing financial challenges due to the sudden fee hike.
Joseph Xavier Kalapurackal, the general secretary of the All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators’ Association, highlighted the predicament of small fishing boats measuring 35 to 45 feet, jointly owned by four to five fishermen. Once rendered obsolete, these boats are transformed into mechanized vessels, equipped with 100 to 120 HP engines to navigate waters up to 12 nautical miles.
Operated by the owners themselves, these boats make daily ventures, returning with modest catches sufficient to sustain their livelihoods. Currently numbering around 200, these boats are integral to traditional fishermen.
However, the recent order has raised the annual license fee from ₹2,700 to ₹26,700, marking a staggering 1,000% increase. Boat owners are also burdened with a ₹90,000 penalty for late payment, a move criticized by Kalapurackal as financially untenable and potentially disastrous for these boats.
Calling for a reassessment, boat operators emphasize that the Fisheries department should consider comparable fee and license rates in other states. They draw attention to concessions in other regions, such as up to ₹1 lakh in sales tax on diesel for fishing boats annually, urging the department to align with practices that support the sustainability of this vital sector.
