Fishermen here denied that they practised purse seine fishing, which is banned by the government, and appealed to the Fisheries Department to withdraw cases registered against them in this connection and restore the facility of buying subsidised kerosene.
A group of fishermen came to the Assistant Director of Fisheries office here on Monday evening.
They claimed that action was taken by the officials based on false complaints. They staged a demonstration in front of the office
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However, S. Siva Kumar, Assistant Director of Fisheries, Tuticorin Fishing Harbour, said that five cases were registered recently against fishermen who indulged in purse seine fishing off New Harbour area. A fine of Rs. 5,000 each was levied against them. Their fishing nets were seized and subsidised kerosene supply was cut. These actions were carried out as per rules and regulations to strictly enforce the ban, he said.
Plea on clam shells
Fishermen of Kallamozhi have sought the intervention of the district administration to initiate action against those causing hindrance to collecting clam shells from the sea.
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They submitted a petition to Collector M. Ravikumar here on Monday. In the petition, they claimed that collection of clams (Sunnambu Sippi) was their only source of livelihood and it was their traditional vocation.
A ruling party man was threatening them and trying to fleece money.
Fisheries Department sources said that clam shell was an edible item and there was no ban on collecting clam shells.