The body of a fisherman from Tamil Nadu, who had been on board the Kerala registered fishing boat ‘Gain’, was traced six nautical miles from the Mangaluru coast on Thursday.
The fisherman has been identified as 30-year-old Filuvai Cruz from Kanyakumari. He had been washed away when a massive wave hit the boat on Wednesday. “The impact of the wave had tossed the fisherman into the sea,” M Haneefa, owner of the boat told DH.
The crew had sent a distress signal immediately as Cruz was thrown off board. Haneefa, in turn, contacted the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard launched a Search and Rescue (SAR) mission for the fisherman by rushing its ship ‘Amartya’, which was patrolling in the sea close to Mangaluru. ‘Amartya’ reached the fishing boat at 11.40 pm and established communication with the crew.
The Coast Guard also ascertained that all the 16 crew members of the boat were safe and had sufficient stock of food and other essential supplies.
The Coast Guard ship next joined the fishing boat in launching an extensive search for Cruz in the area. The Karnataka Coastal Security Police and Dakshina Kannada Fisheries Department were also informed about the missing fisherman.
Coast Guard Commander (Karnataka) DIG S S Dasila told DH that the fishing boat owner Haneefa had contacted him to inform that Cruz body had been traced. “They returned to Kozhikode with the fisherman’s body,” said Dasila.
The commander stressed that fishing boat owners should ensure all safety aspects are in place before their fishermen venture into the sea.
“Fishing boat crew members have to work on the deck in all weathers with hatches open in order to locate, harvest and preserve their catch. Working conditions on the boats and the night lighting are poor. The facilities on the boats need to be improved,” stressed the commander.
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