The decision of Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Puducherry to resume fishing operations from Sunday instead of observing Centre’s 61-day fishing holiday in the entire East Coast from April 15 has agitated fishermen of Andhra Pradesh.
The Ministry of Agriculture after consultation with all the maritime States introduced 61-day ban in East Coast till June 14 and in West Coast from June 1 for mechanised boats and trawlers from this year instead of 45-47 days observed in the previous years.
Ban is observed every year to facilitate better breeding following concerns in various quarters over falling catch. The Centre issued an order for a uniform ban on the recommendation of a technical committee comprising scientists.
“The decision to resume fishing from tomorrow by Tamil Nadu and Puducherry is not good in taste. We have sent SOS to Ministry of Agriculture and intervene immediately and take action through Indian Coast Guard and other agencies against those who defy the ban,” Association of Indian Fishery Industries president Y.G.K. Murti told The Hindu on Saturday.
“Their decision is in gross violation of the Centre’s circular and fishermen of other maritime States in the East Coast are annoyed and agitated,” Dr. Murti said.
According to sources, furious over the decision, the Commissioner of Fisheries, AP has written letters to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to help enforce the ban in the entire East Coast.
The sources said the Coast Guard had been directed to seize vessels and take action against them under Marine Fishing Regulation Act.
“We are totally upset over the development. If one or two States defy the Centre’s fiat, what is fun in observing 61-day ban in AP and other parts of East Coast,” asked AP Mechanised Boat Operators’ Welfare Association president P.C. Appa Rao.
