Fisher folk resume fishing activity in Nagapattinam district

Fisher folk have ventured into the sea on Monday, post-noon, after a two day break in fishing activity due to rough winds.

Fisherfolk from Arcottuthurai, Kodiakkarai, Pushpavanam, Akkarapettai, Keechankuppam and other villages had stayed away from the sea during Pongal, due to rough winds. “Rough winds had forced some fishermen from Nagapattinam to land in Kodiakkarai,” says Mayilvaganan, Panchayathar of Arcottuthurai. According to him, Maatu Pongal is a generally profitable for the fisherfolk with greater demand for their catch. However, this year, rough winds had kept them off sea impinging on their income.

The fisherfolk of Arcottuthurai, generally anchor their boats at Kodiakkarai as there is no anchorage facility in Arcottuthurai rendering boats vulnerable to rough winds. After a two-day break, the fisher folk of Arcottuthurai, who had camped in Kodiakkarai have ventured into the sea.

However, according to Rajendar Nattar of Keechankuppam, unsatisfactory catch is an additional factor for a lull in fishing activity in the past week. The catch does not commensurate with the fuel costs incurred for venturing into the sea. This has brought down the fishing activity during Pongal, says Mr. Nattar.