Traditional fishermen in coastal hamlets in south Indian state Kerala have come up with demand that fishing vessels with Chinese engines should be banned in Indian waters.
    They said fishing activity by boats using high horse-power Chinese engines would drastically deplete the marine wealth.
    While the normal mechanised sector boards use engines with power in the range 100 HP to 180 HP, Chinese engines would have power ranging from 300 HP to 440 HP, fishermen complain.
    Boats with Chinese engines could haul nets at a speed of 4.5 nautical miles an hour. Since they engage in bottom, mid-sea and pelagic trawling at high speed, it will harm the entire marine eco-system.
    Apart from posing threat to marine life, its use would hit the livelihood of those in both the mechanised and traditional sectors, President of the Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation T Peter said.
    "Considering the security of marine life, fishing permit should not be given to vessels fitted with engines imported from China," Peter said.
      He also wanted the use of these engines in the fishing sector to be declared a threat to marine ecology.
      As per the figures, about 500 boats operating from Kerala were using the Chinese engines, sources said.