Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

Cuddalore fishermen seek Puducherry model

— Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

FISHING HOLIDAY: A mechanised boat remaining idle as repair works are undertaken.

CUDDALORE: With the 45-day “fishing holiday” coming into force from Tuesday, the fishermen in Cuddalore district have appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to provide them some sort of compensation for the period.

They have urged the State government to emulate the Puducherry model in which the territorial government is said to be extending a financial assistance of Rs. 750 and 100 kg of free rice for every mechanised boat thus stranded.

As far as Cuddalore district is concerned, there are about 1,500 mechanised boats and launches/trawlers with the inboard engine capacity of 15 hp and above. All these boats have been grounded for the period. The average annual fish catch in the district is in the order of 27,000 tonnes. Ever since the government imposed the restrictions on fishing for the specified period from 2001, the fishermen have been clamouring for suitable compensation.

Assistant Director of Fisheries Department V. Tamilmani told The Hindu that the fishing holiday should not be viewed as a measure to inflict loss on the fishing community. As it happened to be the major breeding season for fishes in the mid-sea, where there was no turbidity, and at the end of the season the fishermen would reap rich harvest.

Because the landings would be quite substantial that would easily compensate the assumed losses. Moreover, the government was giving priority to the safety of fishermen and hence, the period could be profitably utilised for repairing the boats and mending the fishing nets.

On the compliance level of fishermen with regard to the restrictions, Mr. Tamilmani said that even well ahead of the “fishing holiday,” the Fisheries Department was creating awareness among the community through the media and sending letters to their associations.

The department was also deploying field staff periodically to the coastal villages to ensure that no violations took place. Mr. Tamilmani also said that the awareness level among the fishermen was quite good and above all the association’s hold was firm that no fisherman would dare any deviations.

However, the fish arrivals would be in dribs and drabs because catamarans and small mechanised boats would continue to make their forays. Because of the presumed low fish arrivals, the demand for chicken and meat was likely to go up.

As for the demand for compensation, Mr. Tamilmani said that it was for the government to decide.

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