Ramanathapuram
The deep-sea fishing project launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July last to end bottom trawling in the Palk Bay received a fresh impetus on Sunday, when a private firm set up its ship building yard at Kunthukal in Rameswaram for building ‘‘Tuna long liners and gillnetting fishing vessels’.
The Tharangambadi-based ‘Uma Ship Builder & Repairs Pvt Ltd’, one of the 18 companies empanelled by the government for building long liners, became the first firm to set up the shipyard in the island after signing an agreement with fishermen beneficiaries to build 10 long liners.
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After the Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) signed an agreement with 16 fishermen beneficiaries and the Tamil Nadu Fisheries department for building long liners in January, the Uma Ship Builder entered the fray and became the first to set up the yard in the island.
The company has set up the yard on two acres of leased land at Kuzhandai Yesu Nagar in Kunthukal.
On Sunday, the ‘first plate cutting’ ceremony, marking the making of the long liners, was held at the site in the presence of Minister for Information Technology M. Manikandan, Collector S. Natarajan, Fisheries Director G.S. Sameeran, Managing Director of Uma Ship Builder T. Ranganathan and 10 fishermen beneficiaries.
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Each vessel was built at the cost of about ₹80 lakh with Centre providing 50% (₹ 40 lakh) subsidy and the State government, 20% (₹16 lakh). The beneficiaries make 10% (₹ 8 lakh) contribution and helped to raise 20% (₹16 lakh) institutional finance.
“We are pleased to be associated in the ambitious project in a small way and we will make the long liners ready in nine months,” said Mr Ranganathan. The company has developed the design of the vessels in consultation with the beneficiaries. The decision to set up the yard in Rameswaram was to help the fishermen in repairs and refurbishing, he said.
A few more empanelled private companies were expected to set up their ship yards in the island, Mr Sameeran said. The private ship yards would be required to adhere to the quality assurance protocol, he said. Fishermen who opted for deep-sea fishing were being trained by the Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET). So far 198 fishermen were trained and the government proposed to train 500 more fishermen, he said, addressing the function.
Mr. Natarajan said with marine resources depleting in the Palk Bay, deep-sea fishing was the only option for the fishermen, especially when they faced problems in fishing in the Palk Bay. Deep-sea fishing has been proved successful in many countries, he said.
Mr. Manikandan said the deep-sea fishing scheme had been worked out to wean away the fishermen who get arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy while fishing in the Palk Bay and provide them an alternative.
Fishermen should avoid venturing into the Pak Bay and take up deep-sea fishing for peaceful fishing, he said.