An influential organisation of fishermen has objected to the Kerala government “overreacting” to a cyclone forecast by asking all fishermen to return to the shores.

The government of the southern state, which was lacerated by floods in August, did not take a chance and called back even those fishermen who work close to the coast after the Indian Meteorological Department on Wednesday forecast the possibility of an existing low pressure intensifying into a cyclonic storm on Sunday before moving towards the Oman coast.

“My point is, if the cyclone would hit high sea, why did they call back boats that fish closer to the coast? They should have recalled only deep-sea fishing boats,” National Fishworkers’ Federation general secretary T. Peter told The Telegraph on Friday.

An IMD report issued at 4.30pm on Friday said the low pressure persisted in the area. “Rough to very rough sea conditions are very likely to prevail over south and central Arabian Sea. Fishermen are advised not to venture into these areas from October 6 onwards,” the report said.

Peter questioned the need to stop all fishing activities close to the coast from Wednesday itself and termed it a “knee-jerk” reaction by the government, which had been criticised for not issuing timely alerts when Cyclone Ockhi lashed Kerala and Tamil Nadu in December and left around 300 fishermen dead or missing.

“There were genuine complaints in December as the alert was issued at a time almost all the boats were in deep sea. We don’t think this weather condition is anything even close to Ockhi to be so alarmed about,” Peter said.

The smaller boats don’t venture more than 30km into the sea. Deep-sea fishing takes place beyond 70 to 80km from the coast. “At least those closer to the shore should have been allowed to fish and earn their daily bread,” he said.

Some 8,000 country crafts mounted with outboard engines and around 5,000 mechanised deep-sea trawlers operate from Kerala’s fishing harbours.

Peter said the northeast monsoon was essential for crops, reservoirs and the fishing industry. “This is the time fishermen wait for and expect a good catch. But most of our fishermen are now idling on the shores, waiting for the green signal to venture out again,” he added.

Some boat owners, however, said they were worried about the fishermen in 100-odd boats that were in the deep sea already and could not be contacted.

Boat owner Peter Mathew from Kollam told a Malayalam channel that these vessels were already fishing in deep sea when the weather update was received. “There is no way to inform them now,” said Mathew.

But Kollam fisheries deputy director H. Saleem dispelled any reason for panic. “This is a precautionary measure and there is no need to panic. We just want everyone to be safe.”

An official from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, who did not want to be named, admitted that only the deep sea would be affected by the weather phenomenon.

“Yes, we are a bit too careful this time as we want to limit the damage to the maximum-possible extent,” he said, alluding to Cycle Ockhi and the floods that have claimed hundreds of lives.

In both cases the Opposition had accused the Kerala government of not acting soon enough to minimise the damage and loss of lives.

“If this depression becomes a cyclone, the impact would be felt in the high seas while the shores will experience strong winds and heavy rainfall. That’s why we suggested that no one should go to the sea,” said the official.

The depression is expected to move towards the Oman coast after October 7.