Condemning the poaching of mechanised boats from Kanniyakumari in the areas close to Thoothukudi, the mechanised boat workers struck work on Friday.
For the 248 mechanised boats operating from Thoothukudi fishing harbour, the vessels should return to the base before 9 p.m. after leaving the harbour at 5 a.m. for fishing. At the same time, the mechanised boats of Kanniyakumari district are being allowed to do ‘stay fishing’ in which the fishermen could stay on the high seas for a few days and return to their base with sizable catch.
As the Kanniyakumari fishermen allegedly carryout ‘stay fishing operations’ in areas close to Thoothukudi as they cannot carryout fishing operations now on the west coast due to the 45-day ban, the Thoothukudi fishermen have to return to their base within a few hours with lesser catch. Condemning it, the fishermen went on a flash strike on Friday.
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The protesting fishermen said the officials of Department of Fisheries should take steps for preventing the stay fishing operations of Kanniyakumari fishermen in areas close to Thoothukudi or allow the Thoothukudi fishermen also to do ‘stay fishing.’
Official holds talks
Regional Joint Director, Department of Fisheries R. Amal Xavier held talks with the fishermen and assured them to take up this issue with his counterparts in Kanniyakumari district on Monday to find an amicable solution.
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With this, the fishermen are expected to resume operations from Monday.