Mechanised boat owners, workers demand nod for stay fishing

23 mechanised vessels set out to the sea

September 21, 2017 07:08 pm | Updated 07:08 pm IST

THOOTHUKUDI

With fishing remaining suspended for two days, mechanised boat owners and workers thronged the Collectorate here on Thursday seeking permission for stay fishing.

Following violation of the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983 in the form of overstaying in the sea by many mechanised boats on Tuesday, 163 of the fishing vessels were barred from fishing by Fisheries department officials.

R.J. Bosco, a mechanised boat owner, said while stay fishing was allowed in all coastal districts of the State, it was banned only in Thoothukudi. He said the authorities should check all country boats to ascertain whether they had been following all the rules prescribed by the Act, or allow stay fishing by mechanised boats for three days a week.

As per the Act, country boats should be not more than 10 metres long and could have 20 horse power motor engine. But several country boats were longer and fitted with 108 horse power engines, he told The Hindu .

Through stay fishing, mechanised boats could reduce fuel consumption. Normally, a big mechanised boat would consume 1,200 litres of diesel from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on each fishing day. In order not to suffer a loss, each mechanised boat had to net fish worth ₹1.30 lakh on each trip. The strict adherence to return time could entail a loss for many boat operators, he said.

Mr. Bosco also said during the 45-day annual fishing ban period, implemented with the aim of conserving marine resources, country boats continued fishing. Now, country boats were also equipped with machinery on a par with mechanised boats. They were being permitted to engage in deep sea fishing throughout the year, he said.

Assistant Director of Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour Management Ganesha Nehru said 23 mechanised boats set out to the sea on Thursday. The country boat fishermen ended their three-day strike against overstay in the sea by several mechanised boats and resumed fishing, sources said.

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