After annual ban ends, fishermen return to shores, but claim poor catch

After the annual fishing ban ended, the fishermen from the coastal hamlets had ventured into the ocean on Tuesday night time and returned within the early hours on Thursday.

Though the markets have been flooded with the catch and crowds thronged to purchase them, fishermen chief Jesu Raja stated that the catch was not very encouraging.

The 61-day annual ban ended on June 14, but the fishermen from Rameswaram, Mandapam and Thangachimadam had not set off into the ocean the next day (June 15). For nearly a fortnight, the fishermen took time to restore the boats, fishnets and likewise had to take the Covid-19 vaccine. Above all, the lockdown restrictions, although there have been sure relaxations, had made them enterprise into the Palk Bay for fishing solely on June 29 night time, he stated.

On the explanations for the poor catch, Mr. Jesu Raja stated that the annual ban interval, which was meant for manufacturing, was misused by some nation boat fishermen, who ventured into the ocean. The Fisheries Department officers ought to have been extra vigilant, he stated.

On the mechanised boat fishermen venturing into the ocean with out acquiring tokens from the Fisheries Department, Mr. Jesu Raja stated that it was unlucky. “Our association from five districts including Pudukottai, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam had passed resolutions urging the fishermen to follow the regulations but they had ventured into the sea on June 29 night itself,” he stated.

However, a mechanised boat proprietor Anthony Jesu from Thangachimadam stated that solely on the primary day after the annual ban ended, fishermen set off in a bid to get the perfect catch from the seas.

The CITU fishermen wing district secretary M. Karunamoorthy stated that the Fisheries Department officers ought to take stern motion towards these fishermen and seize their mechanised boats, who had not obtained tokens. Venturing into the ocean with out taking tokens was a excessive danger, particularly, when the Sri Lankan Navy was impolite with the fishermen.

The State authorities ought to decide the worth for the fish on the strains of fixation for paddy and different produce, Mr. Jesu Raja stated and added that export varieties have been being procured by the export companies for a paltry ₹350 per kg, whereas it was being offered at ₹800 and above by them, he charged.

The authorities also needs to improve subsidies for diesel as the worth per litre was ₹100. Moreover, the price of fishnet, repairs and ice had gone up due to a number of components, whereas the export companies procured prawns for a paltry value. The fishermen too had to half with it instantly as they don’t have any storage amenities, he identified.