The Hindu : Front Page : 45-day ban on fishing activities begins

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Monday, Apr 16, 2007
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45-day ban on fishing activities begins

P. Sudhakar

OVERHAUL TIME: Mechanised boats berthed at the fishing harbour in Tuticorin on Sunday. — Photo N. Rajesh

TUTICORIN: The 45-day ban on fishing activities by mechanised boats came into effect on Sunday. The ban excludes fishing by country boats and catamarans.

Since scientists found fish breeding to be active in the eastern coastal belt during April and May, fishing by mechanised boats from Thiruvallur to Kanyakumari districts is prohibited between April 15 and May 29. As the Government order was enforced on Sunday (a regular weekly holiday for fishermen in the district), more than 220 mechanised boats were berthed at the fishing harbour.

Major overhauling of boats and mending of fishnets will be carried out during the last 10 days of the ban.

The 3,500-odd fisherfolk directly associated with this occupation and their family members will find the going tough during these days. After being forced to run the family till May 29 with meagre savings, the fisherfolk find it difficult to pay tuition and other fees for their wards as the academic year starts soon after the end of the ban period.

"Some of the mechanised boat owners give loans to their workers to manage the situation to some extent while others are virtually left at the mercy of moneylenders.

If some official assistance is given to them during the ban period, similar to the aid being given by the Kerala Government, it will be of immense help," Alphonse Fernando, president of Tuticorin District Mechanised Boat Owners' Association, said.

A memorandum in this connection was submitted to the Minister for Fisheries four months ago.

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