Kerala plans multi-agency mechanism for faster response to sea accidents

The Fisheries department of Kerala is devising a multi-agency mechanism to expedite responses to sea accidents, particularly during the initial critical period known as the ‘golden hour.’ This decision was made following protests by fishermen who complained of delays in search operations for three missing fishers in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts.

The plan involves collaboration with various agencies such as the disaster management authority, Revenue department, police, Coastal Police, Marine Enforcement and the Navy, along with the Fisheries department. A standard operating procedure (SOP) for handling such incidents is already in draft form, and Fisheries director Chelsasini V. is tasked with finalizing a comprehensive version to present to the stakeholders.

Given the fishermen's intimate knowledge of sea conditions, including wind and current speeds, a local rapid response team composed of fishers will be established to assist in search efforts during the ‘golden hour.’ To address the lack of scuba divers among government agencies, the Fisheries department intends to train local divers, including mussel divers, and provide them with fixed salaries and retainers for support during search operations.

The department also aims to collect more organized data on fishers who regularly venture at sea by maintaining updated, digitized records. Furthermore, the department is exploring measures to encourage fishers to take insurance policies, both for personal protection and their vessels. This move will provide a safety net in case of accidents, injuries, or vessel damage.