Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Identity cards for fishermen sought

By Our Staff Reporter

Ramanathapuram June 8. The Indian and Sri Lankan Governments should issue identity cards to fishermen to enable them to fish in both the Indian and Sri Lankan waters, according to

Harekrishna Debenath, Chairman, National Fish Workers' Forum.

Talking to reporters here, Mr. Debenath said the forum decided to mount pressure on the Central Government to sign a memorandum of understanding with Sri Lankan Government to ensure the welfare of Rameswaram fishermen.

He said fishermen in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu as well as their counterparts in Sri Lanka should share marine resource available in the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Straits.

The Coast Guard should exercise strict vigil to prevent conflict between the traditional and small-mechanised boats and larger deep-sea vessels. The Coast Guard should be strengthened, expanded and upgraded with the state-of-the-art navigation and surveillance system to prevent poaching by foreign vessels.

It was also decided to fight restrictions on fishing and using 21 islands from Rameswaram to Tuticorin in the name of protecting marine resources. Such curbs and restrictions all over the country affected the fishing community.

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