T’puram: Fisheries minister V E Abdul Gafoor said a scheme will be introduced to provide insurance in cases of natural death among the state’s fisherfolk.At present, insurance is not granted when fishermen die due to natural illnesses or a heart attack. Coverage exists only for accidental death and disability caused by accidents. Once the new scheme takes effect, insurance protection will be guaranteed for all registered fishermen in the state. The minister announced the new insurance plan during talks with representatives of boat owners’ associations in the fisheries sector here on Friday.It was also decided to address the difficulties faced in renewing licences for fishing vessels whose permits have expired. The existing Kerala Marine Fishing Regulation Act related to sea fishing will be updated to suit present needs. An expert committee will be appointed soon to conduct the required review and submit a report. The move towards legal amendments will be made after collecting feedback from people working in the fisheries sector as well. The govt is considering revising the law enacted in 1980 to align it with current realities.Regarding the incident involving the sinking of the MSC Elsa ship, the minister said govt will intervene in the case currently before high court to compensate fishermen for their losses. He also stated that steps have been decided to restructure the fisheries management council and ensure it operates at full capacity.
