Mandapam fishermen who had been at loggerheads with fishermen from Rameswaram, Thangachimadam and Pamban over alleged use of banned fishing gears, staged a hunger strike on Tuesday as shops downed shutters, expressing solidarity with the fishermen.
About 300 mechanised boat fishermen in Mandapam and about 250 mechanised boat fishermen from Rameswaram, Thangachimadam and Pamban have been fishing in Mandapam for several years and problem broke out among them after Mandapam fishermen allegedly started treating the other fishermen as outsiders and accused them of affecting their livelihood.
Tension broke out last week when Mandapam fishermen accused their counterparts in Rameswaram, Thangachimadam and Pamban of using the banned ‘pair trawling’ and other fishing gears and demanded that the fisheries department officials initiate action against them.
In a counter, fishermen from the three regions accused the Mandapam fishermen of indulging in illegal activities and catching banned endangered species, including sea cucumber. As the differences between the two sections of fishermen threatened to gain communal and religious connotation, officials intervened and a convened peace meeting last week but the impasse continued.
Later, the Mandapam fishermen launched an indefinite strike and staged a one-day fast on Tuesday, pressing their demands. Shopkeepers downed shutters in support of the striking fishermen. The fishermen, however, called off the stir after the district administration assured to settle the matter amicably by holding talks with the two warring fishermen.
Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) R. Suman convened peace meeting in the evening and it went on till late in the evening. Fisheries department officials including Deputy Director E Kathavarayan were present at the meeting.
