The state of Kerala into shock as one of the leading leaders of the fishing community has died. A prominent leader of Kerala’s coastal community and General Secretary of National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF), T Peter died on Thursday night in Thiruvananthapuram. He was undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Peter was aged 62. T Peter is known for his untiring attempts to bring the issues of the fishing community to the forefront throughout his life.

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He kept the opinions of the fishermen on the new advanced shipping corridor mooted by the Union government, to the issues of coastal erosion. T Peter had been vocal in almost all the issues of the communities. His efforts had also been prominent in almost all the judgments of the community. He was also vocal for the welfare of small-scale artisanal fishers and had raised his voice against the ill-effects of constant trawling. Peter is a native of Veli in Thiruvananthapuram. He is also the former president of Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation, which is the trade union of small-scale artisanal fishers. He was also the editor of Alakal magazine.

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As per the reports, he was admitted in the hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19 on October 3. He was reportedly on ventilator support after he contracted pneumonia. Even weeks before his death, he had been leading a protest in Kollam against the proposed shipping corridor. Peter had also stood in support of the people of Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu against the nuclear power plant. From activists to journalists, many from across the country have come out expressing grief over his death.

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