Ignoring the instructions of Fisheries department, over 7,000 fishermen ventured into sea in 1,400 trawlers without obtaining fishing permits on Friday night as the 45-day ban period drew to a close.
The ban period ended on Friday midnight and the Fisheries department instructed fishermen to venture into sea on Saturday morning after getting permits, but the fishermen in Rameswaram, Mandapam and Pamban started from 8 p.m. on Friday.
After leaders of various fishermen associations advised them to leave for fishing only on Saturday morning, the fishermen agreed to abide by but reversed their stand after reports suggested that their counterparts in Kottaipattinam and Jagadapattinam in Pudukottai district started on Friday night.
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Early on Saturday morning, the Rameswaram fishing jetty, which housed more than 750 trawlers, wore a deserted look. The Fisheries department issued permits to only five trawlers on Saturday morning, sources said. Similar was the case in Pamban and Mandapam fishing jetties, the sources added.
Action would be initiated against the erred fishermen after instructions from higher officials, the sources said. The association leaders could not restrain the fishermen after they received reports that fishermen in Pudukottai district had already ventured into sea, said P. Sesu Raja, leader of a fishermen association.
The fishermen have taken the risk despite the fear perception of Sri Lankan navy arresting them if they crossed the boundary line loomed large.
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Reports received here said the fishermen confined themselves to Indian waters throughout Friday night before making attempts to get into the Lankan waters on Saturday.
“We have not received any adverse report till Saturday evening though Lankan navy was present at the International Maritime Boundary Line,” Mr. Raja said. The fishermen are expected to return on Sunday morning.