With the fishing ban to be lifted on the midnight of 29{+t}{+h}and early morning of 30{+t}{+h}, the fishermen in the State are getting ready to ride the waves once again. They are getting the boats and nets ready, tanking up on diesel, packing ice blocks, storing drinking water, provisions and cooking utensils.
Each boat owner will be spending around Rs. 2 lakh on new stoves, utensils, provisions, including 50 kg of rice, coconut oil, 50 litres of milk, vegetables, tea powder and other groceries.
Fishermen in over 800 mechanised boats that were idle for 44 days are raring to spread their nets far and wide in the Bay of Bengal, hoping to net cuttlefish and prawns and other varieties.
Strong current
“The current has been rather strong since February and there has not been much fishing these past few months. We will visit the coordinates where we have caught shoals of fish in the past. We hope to bring back a good catch. Many boats will return by next Sunday for the market,” said Iniyan, a boat driver.
Despite the rush filling up diesel was not a problem, lack of drinking water in the harbour has been causing problems.
“Chennai Metrowater does not supply water inside. Since the harbour is under the control of the Chennai Port Trust they have contracted water supply to some people and that is not done regularly. Ice manufacturers too have upped their prices. A block of ice is usually priced at Rs. 200, but now they have increased it to Rs. 300. There is no mechanism to control that,” said E. Raghupathy of the Chennai Mechanised Boats Fishermen Welfare Association.
Over 800 fully furnished boats
with required provisions venture into the sea
