Mechanised boat operators to postpone fishing by one week
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The Kakinada-based mechanised boat operators have determined to postpone resumption of fishing exercise in deep sea fearing spreading of COVID-19 and inconvenience to export exercise due to partial curfew restrictions. The 61-day annual fishing ban ends at midnight on June 14.
In East Godavari district, 450 mechanised boats are working from the Kakinada fishing harbour partaking in deep-sea fishing that targets primarily tuna and prawns.
Kakinada Mechanised Boat Operators Welfare Association former president Pamadi Maatharaju informed The Puucho, “We have decided to postpone the fishing activity till June 22. Nearly 6,700 crew operating the 450 mechanised boats will be at the risk of being infected with the coronavirus. Postponement of the fishing by one week will minimise the risk.”
“The chances of spread of virus among the crew are high as several of them hail from the coastal belt in the district, which is still in the grip of the COVID-19. The boat operators are also fearing adverse impact on export activities in the wake of partial curfew,” added Mr. Maatharaju.
The fish from the Kakinada harbour is exported primarily to Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu from the place it might be exported to international locations in Asia.
Joint Director (Fisheries) P.V. Satyanarayana informed The Puucho, “We have assured the marine fish exporters and mechanised boat operators that they will be given special permissions for the transport irrespective of the partial curfew restrictions. However, the operators choose to wait.”
Fibre boat operators
Meanwhile, the operators of 5,100 small and fibre boat operators have been ready to resume fishing from the midnight of June 14 or on June 15 from the 30 factors within the district.
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