Lack of updated crew record raises safety concerns at Kozhikode fishing harbours

Despite a series of deep-sea accidents involving fishing boats, an accurate and updated record of fishermen, including migrant workers on duty, is yet to become a reality at several fishing harbours in Kozhikode district.

Harbour action committee leaders allege that some migrant fishers are suspected of using fake identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, to evade occasional inspections. They say the absence of a systematic record-keeping mechanism could pose serious difficulties in identifying crew members in the event of accidents at sea.

“During flash inspections, these suspected groups of migrants manage to stay away from the harbours. People who go out in boats rarely encounter such squads. We have brought all these issues before the Harbour Management Society functioning under the chairmanship of the District Collector,” says Karichali Preman, chairman of the Beypore Harbour Action Committee.