Various fishermen’s organisations want the fishing ban period to be shifted to October-November-December, during the northeast monsoon.
They say most of the fish caught during the rains contain roe (eggs). The sea is also very turbulent and it is better for the fishermen if they don’t venture out during that period.
Fishermen also want government intervention to increase the fish population. Nanjil Ravi of Akila Indhiya Meenavar Sangam says the ban period can be utilised usefully to increase fish population.
“The government can rear fish seedlings and let them into the sea so they will grow up by the time the ban is up. There is a lot of land belonging to the Central and State governments. Fish population will not increase on its own. We need some kind of intervention,” he says.
Bharathi, president, South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association, says artificial reefs must be deployed in large numbers so fish can breed.
“At present very few reefs have been deployed. More locations should be identified and reefs created. Also, river estuaries must be desilted so the fish can breed there,” he says.
Pollution is also an issue the fishermen are concerned with. M.D. Dayalan of the Indian Fishermen Association says that unless fish have the right temperature, salinity and turbidity, they will not breed.
“There is pollution even in the deep seas. Sunlight does not reach deep due to pollution that has spread from the coast. The pollution control board must ensure industrial waste is not dumped into the sea,” he says.
Fishermen seek an increase in the assistance amount of Rs. 2,000 disbursed during the ban period. “It is only about Rs. 44/day for a family, which is a paltry amount. The Central government does not give us anything though it has introduced the ban. Boat owners too must be included in the list of beneficiaries. They spend close to Rs. 1 lakh just to keep their boats safe and moist during the ban,” says Mr. Ravi.
