At Kasimedu fishing harbour, but for the openings leading to the Bay of Bengal, boats can be seen crowding in every direction.
Space along the finger jetties has been used to create facilities to berth 533 boats at a cost of Rs. 75 crore. The fishing harbour, where nearly 130 tonnes of fish are brought to shore everyday, has 720 trawlers, 700 smaller motorised boats and catamarans — all of which require space adequate for anchorage.
The Fisheries Department has now made space inside the harbour to facilitate docking of more boats and is presently in the process of fixing rubber fenders along the wharfs, sources told The Hindu.
The harbour -- with water covering 48.56 hectares and land 24.28 hectares -- was inaugurated back in 1984 with enough facilities to berth 560 mechanised fishing boats and 15 trawlers.
But with the gradual increase in the number of boats, additional space was required and hence expansion work was taken up in February 2014. “The damaged trawler wharf was also repaired as part of the project,” a source added.
Along with extension of the existing wharf, two 200-metre-long finger jetties have been constructed. Additonally, a 150-metre-long finger jetty and a 290-metre-long low-level wharf has been created. Two net-mending sheds, auction halls and road repair and re-laying works have also been completed.
Fishermen, who are happy with the additional space, say they need more space as 180 trawlers and 405 smaller craft are yet to get parking bays.
“If the State government takes over the management of the fishing harbour from the Chennai Port Trust, the harbour will become more productive. We want to export fish directly from the harbour, and for that, it needs be upgraded to meet European Union standards,” a fisherman said.
