The Centre’s initiative to enforce annual fishing conservation period in the entire East Coast may bear fruit this year with Tamil Nadu and Puducherry agreeing in-principle to observe ban from April 15 to June 15.
For the past two years, both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry had allowed the fishing boats to venture into sea ahead of the ban period saying the conservation should not be enforced beyond 45/47 days.
“Following our representation to the Centre and the following directives from New Delhi, the governments in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have agreed to consult the stakeholders shortly to convince them on the need to opt for a two-month conservation period to allow various fish species breed and increase their number,” Association of Indian Fishery Industries (AIFI) president Y.G.K. Murty told The Hindu on Monday.
He said Tamil Nadu would initiate the process once the election code imposed for bypolls there was over. Stating that the ban would make no meaning without their cooperation, he said total enforcement would only help achieve the objectives.
The Ministry of Agriculture will shortly issue the order for two-month annual conservation period in the East Coast from April 15 to June 15 and in the West Coast from June 1 to July 30.
‘Stop motorised boats’
Though the ban is not applicable to traditional fishermen, mechanised boat operators feel that owners of many beach landing crafts (BLC) fitted with motors violate the ban and venture into the sea for fishing from Jalaripeta, Mangamaripeta, Bhimili, Pudimadaka and other places.
AP Mechanised Boat Operators’ Welfare Association president P.C. Appa Rao and Dolphin Boat Operators’ Welfare Association president Ch. Satyanarayana Murthy said the marine police and other agencies should not allow them to fish during the ban period.
There are about 700 mechanised boats at Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour out of which 80% are lying idle for the past few months at the jetty due to high cost of operations.
The 50% subsidy offer prompted about 300 mechanised boats to go for tuna long-lining but the catch has also fallen drastically this year. “We need stringent measures by all the agencies concerned for enforcement of ban so as to increase the number of shrimp and other resources,” Mr. Murthy said.
