Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's 52-day trawling ban officially came to a close on Tuesday. The ban, which took effect on June 9, had fishermen navigating their way through restricted waters until midnight.

During this period, fishing trawlers were required to remain at a distance of 12 nautical miles from the coastline. The ban was not applied to smaller inboard and traditional boats.

Maintenance of boats and nets, which costs lakhs, took place during the trawling ban. Some workers also went for other jobs during the period. The ban on trawling was first implemented in the state in 1989.

As the trawling ban has lifted, Kerala's fishing communities set their sights on a promising season ahead.