Kochi: Fish worth lakhs of rupees caught by purse seine fishing boats at Cochin Fisheries Harbour, Thoppumpady, were left to rot on Monday after CITU workers allegedly blocked sales, citing the nokku kooli (gawking wages) dispute. According to Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation President Jackson Pollayil, the ice in the storage boxes melted, leading to the catch decaying. The fishermen were then forced to sell the fish at low prices to fertiliser manufacturers on Tuesday.

He said that the purse seine sector, which supports more than 120 boats and tens of thousands of workers, is on the verge of collapse due to the ongoing dispute. Despite a state ban on nokku kooli, police and authorities have failed to act. “If this continues, fishermen will be forced to abandon purse seine fishing and seek other jobs,” Jackson said.

CITU president K M Riyad, however, rejected the allegation that workers demanded nokku kooli. Instead, he accused boat owners of withholding wages. “For more than a month, the boat owners have not been paying CITU workers,” Riyad said. “As per the agreement, boat owners must pay 2 per cent of each boat’s total catch value to workers. But in August, they issued a notice saying the 2 per cent would be calculated only after deducting expenses. We disagreed, and since then, payments have stopped. We only demand the wages our workers deserve.” He also denied claims that fishermen sold their catch to fertiliser companies, saying it was taken to Munambam harbour.

The fishermen’s union has announced a convention to protest what it calls the denial of fishing rights at the harbour. The National Fish Workers Forum (NFF) has also decided to petition the Port Trust Chairman, Union Minister for Fisheries Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Union Minister for Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal, warning that they will demand the harbour’s closure if fishermen’s rights are not protected.