Fishermen are on a massive preparation mode with the ban on fishing to be lifted shortly in Puducherry region.
As Puducherry government ordered uniform colour coding to all mechanised boats, fishermen have anchored their boats at the yard and been painting the cabin, hull and wheel house of the boat in fluorescent green while the upper portions in fluorescent yellow colour.
The scene looks like a huge industrial unit in operation.
The ban on fishing came into effect after the Centre suggested it — by a mutual consensus among all maritime States — to conserve and replenish fish wealth. It is being enforced since 2001 in Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory. It prohibits fishing by mechanised boats and trawlers in the territorial waters of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for 45 days every year. The ban ends on May 31.
Utilising the off-season period, most of the fishermen also set things aright with their vessels, repairing damaged parts and carrying out maintenance on engine, gearbox, propeller shaft and icebox.
P. Kavi said, “I have been painting the boats as per norms of the government. It costs nearly Rs.1.5 lakh per boat for painting works and we should bear the expenses. The government does not support us in any way to meet the norms. Unless we follow the colour code, we will not be paid diesel subsidy by the government.”
Even as the ban period is to be over soon, most fishermen complain that ban relief assistance is yet to be paid. Fishermen feel that the annual ban is not necessary if the ban on fishing by using the purse-seine nets and pair-seine nets are properly implemented.
A. Velu said, “Some brought huge trawlers from Kerala and have been using such nets. The fishing by using the purse-seine nets will catch even small sized fishes and thereby endanger the species. Even fishermen of Cuddalore also use such nets.”
Still clogged
Fishermen also express concern over the mouth of harbour being clogged with silt in spite of dredging.
M. Veeramani, general secretary of Meenavar Makkal Kazhagam said, “The fishermen invested Rs. 35 lakh to Rs.1 crore on each boat. Last year around 20 boats hit the sandy patch and were damaged as the mouth was not properly deepened. The situation continues even today. If the boat hits again, the owner will go bankrupt.”
The jetty and yard are filled with plastic waste and other material. Poor lighting aggravates the fishermen’s woes.
K.V. Kothandam, a boat owner, said the sprawling area where boats are docked do not have sufficient lights and sanitation facilities. There are instances of parts of boats stolen by unknown persons.