Showcause notice issued to 166 fishermen in Cuddalore for possession of banned purse seine nets

The Cuddalore Fisheries Department has issued showcause notices to 166 fishermen from 4 coastal hamlets in the district for utilizing banned purse seine (Surukku Valai) nets.

The Department issued the notice, which requested why motion shouldn’t be taken in opposition to the fishermen for violating the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983, notified by the federal government.

A senior official mentioned that the district administration had warned fishermen in opposition to utilizing purse seine nets as a result of they had been extremely damaging and ecologically unsustainable. The fishermen had been warned that in the occasion of flouting the directive, their catch, fishing nets and boats could be confiscated, and names withdrawn from welfare schemes.

A preliminary enquiry by officers revealed that 166 fishermen from Devanampattinam, Nallavadu, Rasapettai and Sothikuppam had been in possession of the banned nets. The Department would provoke in opposition to the fishermen after receiving a proof from them, the official mentioned.

The district administration has again and again been cautioning fishermen that the use of purse seine nets will invite motion below the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act. “We have been confiscating the catch. There has been no let up on our part and the Department has conducted around 60 meetings with the fishermen to abolish the practice. But a section of fishermen continue to use these nets,” the official mentioned.

A peace committee assembly convened by Revenue Divisional Officer Adhiyaman Kaviarasu with fishers on Sunday additionally failed to arrive at a consensus. “We have now planned for another peace committee meeting with fishermen next week,” the official added.