Mangalore: Fishing boats to be colour coded

TOI

Mangalore, 28 Jun 2012: Trawlers and fishing boats across India will have colour codes in the near future. The Union government has decided to introduce the new system to strengthen the security along the coast.

 

According to it, each coastal state will have its own colour code, which will help national security agencies differentiate and identify to which state a particular boat belongs.

 

Once the system is implemented fishermen in the state can use only blue, black and white to paint their boats.

 

Vijaya Kumar, the assistant director of the department of fisheries, said the Union ministry of shipping had decided to bring in the system keeping in mind the nation’s security.

 

"The state directorate of fisheries has sent a directive to all district-level offices to ensure the implementation of the rule. While the cabin of the boats registered in the state should be painted with blue, upper and lower portion of boats’ body should be painted with white and black colours respectively," he said.

 

The fisheries department has held a preliminary round of discussions with all stakeholders involved. A meeting of various fishermen societies and associations was also organized in this connection recently.

 

"The information regarding the new colour code has been conveyed to fishermen representatives in the meeting," he added.

 

National Fishermen’s Federation secretary Vasudev Boloor said that the National Fish Workers Forum had already welcomed the decision of the government.

 

"It is an important decision in the interest of the nation’s security as well as for the coastal security. The security agencies and fishermen can identify the boats of other states. It will also help check intrusion of enemies through sea," he added.