Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (KD)

Udupi, Jun 7: Fishermen of the district are planning to stage protest in Chennai against the central government’s decision to renew the licenses of multinational companies for deep sea trawler here.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, MP Manorama Madhwaraj has asked for a reconsideration of the decision as it would affect the livelihood of the poor people. She said that the centre has renewed the licenses of 110 trawlers owned by multinational groups in the south coastal area.

Manorama said that it was under the leadership of Singh that the NDA government had assured protection of locals by suspending the deep sea fishing trawler license upon expiry of the term. In the letter it is also mentioned that the extension of deep sea fishing trawler license would affect the traditional fishing too.

She said that the volume of fishing of traditional fishermen is diminishing but the deep sea trawlers are reaping a good harvest every year. In 1990s the government under the guise of liberalization paved way for multinationals to operate in India waters, but it has become detrimental to the local communities.