A day-long hartal, called by various outfits over the ongoing controversy regarding an alleged deep sea fishing contract between the CPI(M)-led government and a US-based company, hit life in coastal areas of Kerala on Saturday.

Various pro-Congress outfits, under the banner of Matsya Mekhala Samrakshana Samithi, called for the hartal in the coastal belt. Boats did not venture into the sea in a majority of places and hundreds of fishermen kept themselves away from their job, expressing solidarity with the agitation.