Country boat and traditional boat fishermen, owing allegiance to Bharatiya Meenavan Sangam, affiliated to the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) staged demonstration at Pamban, near here on Thursday, protesting against the proposed fish landing centre at Kunthukal.
Led by BMS district president P. Muthuvel, a large number of fishermen from Pamban and nearby fishing hamlets participated in the demonstration stating that the proposed fish landing centre would affect their livelihood as they practised traditional shore seine fishing and used small crafts for fishing in the area. “We are not per se opposing the fish landing centre,” T. Bharathi Rajan, BMS district secretary, said. As the traditional fishermen who had been fishing for four to five generations would be displaced, the government could relocate the centre to the east of Kunthukal, he said.
Fisherfolk from Sammatti, Chinnapalam, Therkkuvadi and Mugamadhiyarpuram joined the protest.
The State government proposed to establish the fish landing centre at a cost of ₹. 60 crore to wean away a section of fishermen in Rameswaram to deep sea fishing and prevent them from getting arrested by the Sri Lankan navy on charges of poaching in Lankan waters.
Fisheries secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi and Commissioner Beela Rajesh had recently visited the site and discussed feasibility of the project with stakeholders.
