Kochi : Fishermen were involved in 1,607 accidents at sea in the last 10 years, with Ernakulam recording the highest number with 582, followed by Kozhikode with 363, as per data from the fisheries department. The lowest number is in Alappuzha, with 24 accidents.
“After the Enrica Lexie incident, where Italian mariners shot two Indian fishermen dead in international waters in 2012, eight collisions involving fishing boats and vessels had taken place.
Charles George, state president of Kerala Matsya Thozhilali Aikyavedi, said fishing vessels in Ernakulam face the threat of collision with other vessels as both move through the shipping channel. In most cases, the vessels continue navigating without halting.
The boats that meet with accidents and suffer damage are given Rs 1 lakh from Matsyafed’s own fund. Around 2,400 fisher families that were affected were given insurance compensation in the past decade. The family members of the deceased are being given Rs 10 lakh since 2017. It was Rs 5 lakh from 2014 till 2017.
Govt is also providing group insurance to fishermen.