Thiruvananthapuram: Fishing activities across Kerala came to a standstill as the Fisheries Coordination Committee called for a 24-hour coastal shutdown in protest against the Centre’s decision to mine sand off the Kollam coast.
The Committee, which includes members from both the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front and the Congress-led UDF, is demanding that the Centre revoke its approval for sand mining across three blocks spanning 242 sq km off Kollam’s coast.
The Union Ministry of Mines initiated the tendering process in November 2024, with the winning bidder expected to be announced by March 27.
As a result of the protest, fish markets remained shut on Thursday, affecting vendors and traders across the state. From small-scale vendors to large fish stalls, all businesses stayed closed, and no fishing boats—neither small nor large—ventured into the sea since the shutdown began at midnight on Wednesday.
The demonstration, spearheaded by former Congress MP T.N. Prathapan and CPI(M) legislator P.P. Chitharanjan, has been widely supported across the state, with Kerala’s fishing sector and allied communities actively participating. The Latin Church has also expressed solidarity with the movement, with its members joining the protests.
Kerala’s fishing industry employs around 2.5 lakh people directly, with another 15 lakh dependent on it indirectly. The state has approximately 4,000 trawlers and over 25,000 other fishing vessels, making the sector crucial to the state’s economy.
The success of the shutdown is expected to add momentum to the upcoming Parliament march scheduled for March 12.
Despite the rare show of unity between the Congress and CPI(M), political tensions remain. Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan flagged off a statewide coastal rally, organized by the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), an ally of the Congress-led UDF.
RSP state secretary and former minister Shibhu Baby John accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of maintaining a contradictory stance.
“Publicly, the Left government claims to oppose sea sand mining, yet the Centre’s decision to proceed with it has the silent backing of the Vijayan administration,” he alleged.
With IANS inputs
