Fishers demand continuous Coast Guard patrols off Colachel coast following mid-dea attack

The State government has assured decisive intervention and legal action following the recent incident involving targeted attacks on fishing vessels and fishers off the coasts of Colachel and Muttom.

Speaking at a meeting with representatives of the fishing community, Minister Shibu Baby John said that the State will take strict, comprehensive action to safeguard local fishers and protect their livelihoods. He also confirmed that the government is actively evaluating measures to grant financial compensation to the affected fishermen whose boats, fishing nets, GPS systems, and navigational equipment were damaged or destroyed in the incident. He added that taking the law into one’s own hands will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

To ensure immediate inter-state coordination, the Kollam District Collector has been instructed to directly liaise with the Kanyakumari District Collector. This administrative outreach aims to launch a joint legal inquiry, enforce legal accountability against those involved in the attack from Tamil Nadu vessels, and institute strict protective measures across the regional borders. The Minister said that he has already spoken with the Kanyakumari Collector regarding the attacks. “A formal requests for immediate legal action have been lodged, and joint administrative steps will be enforced without delay to protect Kerala’s fishing fleet,” he said.

According to fishers, they were attacked approximately 60 nautical miles off the Colachel and Muttom coastlines. They had alleged that crew members aboard Tamil Nadu fishing boats confronted them in deep-sea waters, destroying critical fishing gear and navigation equipment. In response, the fishing community representatives submitted a list of key demands during the meeting, including full monetary compensation for lost equipment, continuous Coast Guard surveillance along the Colachel and Muttom sectors, and strong administrative protocols to permanently prevent mid-sea aggressions by neighboring State vessels.