Fishermen plan series of protests

KOCHI:  Seeking steps to protect the fisheries sector, the Kerala Fisheries Co-ordination Committee has resolved to begin a series of protests in the district.The detailed course of action will be decided at its convention to be held at Puthuvype on July 10. The apex body of the fishermen’s organisation, at its meeting, appealed to the government to drop the plan to acquire the 300-acre land owned by the fisheries station for starting LNG power station.The majority of the land owned by Agriculture University have been acquired by the government. The university is left with only 50 acres. “A research unit of the Central Government and an oceanarium and two research units of the state government are functioning in the area,” general convener Charles George said.The 117-km-long LNG pipeline from Vypeen to Kayamkulam is a threat to the fisheries sector, he said.The state coordination committee’s meeting on  June 27 will discuss the matter in detail, he said.He said the Cochin Port Trust had failed to keep its promise of building a fishing harbour at Kalamukku.