KOCHI: It was nine in the morning when Neeba heard about the boat-ship collision. Stunned for a moment, she dropped her shopping chores mid-way to rush home to call her father Manuel who had gone fishing three days ago.“I had no idea on what to do. It was only after I heard my father’s voice that I got relieved. He has reached the harbour,” says Neeba.Just like Neeba, there are a lot of daughters, sisters, brothers and wives who are worried for their beloved ones who have ventured into the deep sea for a good catch.Jancy, wife of Xavier, was in a desperate mood when Express met her at the Vypeen fishing harbour. “It has been three days since he had gone to the sea. Though I tried to call him, I couldn’t get him. The children are also worried.The boat owner said that a message has been sent through wireless,” she said.Some fishing boats take months to return while others come back in weeks.The recent mishaps in the sea have sent a shiver down the spines of the already-worried relatives.With virtually no communication, they find solace in prayers and hopes. Manuel, who just arrived at the fishing harbour, says, “Nowadays, I fear going out to the sea. Accidents are on the rise.”He blames the ships for most of the accidents. “Most accidents happen during night. Earlier, the ships usually moved through the western side of the channel, but now they have taken the eastern side which causes accidents,” he said.Joy, another fisherman from Valiyathura in Thiruvananthapuram who works in a fishing boas at Vypeen, shares the same fear.“Our families are always worried when we go out for work. Fishing is our bread and we know no other job. Despite the fears, we have no other option,” he said.George, a boat owner, says most of the time when a ship comes close, the boats skid away with the anchor or sometimes cutting the rope. “Who is there to feed our family when we are gone? The leaders might come for a day and express condolence and offer assistance. But, after that there is no sign of them,” he said.George said most of the time, the ships did not sail through the channels marked for them.“We are afraid to venture out into the sea. Over 80 per cent of the workers who go out to the sea have fears but the have no other option,” he says.1,200 boats in district*Ernakulam district alone has more than 1,200 fishing boats operating from here. Each of them can accommodate up to 5-7 people. Out of this, about 600-700 vessels go to sea on a daily basis* There are about 400 Mechanised Country Crafts (MCC) operating from the coasts here. Out of this, about 300 are equipped with outboard engine which can accommodate more than 6 people while the remaining are inboard crafts which accommodate 20-30 people* The officials with the Fisheries Department insist on certain safety standards like life jackets and life buoys, but many vessels don’t carry such equipment while going for fishing* The Coast Guard has provided certain safety equipment to the fishermen to inform them about any emergency while fishing. In the wake of the recent incidents, the fishermen will be directed to carry the safety equipment with them.* Fishing vessels from other places including Kollam and Kulachal come to Kochi. However the Fisheries Dept does not have any proper data about such vessels.
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