Fishermen venture into sea as ban ends

After 45 days, fishermen of 72 villages in 10 coastal mandals set sail for fishing. A ban on fishing operations was enforced to facilitate development of brood-stock so that productivity could be improved, Fisheries Department in-charge Assistant Director V.V.R. Babu told the The Hindu.

Fishermen all set to venture into sea at Ethamukala village in Prakasam district as 45-day ban ended on Sunfday. Photo: Kommuri Srinivas

It was a euphoria for the fishermen in the district on Sunday, who ventured into the sea with high hopes of good catch with the 45-day ‘fishing holiday’ coming to an end.

Fishing operations resumed off Prakasam coast as fishermen of 72 villages in 10 coastal mandals brought 42 mechanised and 1,400 motorised boats to the shore and set sail for fishing.

“We expect a good season this year,” said a group of enthusiastic fishermen from Ethamukala village before venturing into the sea.

Benefits

A ban on fishing operations was enforced to facilitate development of brood-stock so that productivity could be improved, Fisheries Department in-charge Assistant Director V.V.R. Babu told the

The Hindu.

The Fisheries Department had released money to the Civil Supplies Department for distribution of 31 kg of rice to over 10,000 sea-faring fishermen from the coastal mandals of Ongole, Kotthapatnam, Chirala, Vetapalem, Chinnaganjam, Nagulapadu, Tangutur, Singarayakonda, Ulavapadu and Gudluru, he said.

The Centre had sanctioned Fisheries Development Rebate to provide an additional subsidy of Rs 3.25 per litre towards purchase of up to 300 litres of diesel by fishermen for 2009-10 and 2010-11 fiscal year. Online transfer of the amount for eligible fishermen had been done, said Fisheries Development officer G. Kishore Babu.

Grievances

However, the fishermen brought various grievances to the notice of the administration. A group of fishermen from Kotthapatnam said the State Government should release Rs.4,000 instead of supplying “sub-standard” rice during the ban period. “Repairing of boats should be brought under the MGNREGS scheme so that we can get some employment under the scheme,” said V. Ananda Rao, a fisherman from Kotthapatnam.