Annual fishing ban along Tamil Nadu coast comes into effect

Mechanized boats fishermen have been instructed not to venture into the sea to avoid disturbance caused by trawlers to marine life during the breeding season, he said. The ban would not apply to country boats which would continue fishing, as usual, he added.

Tamil Nadu has more than 1,076 km-long coastlines and is one of the leading states in marine fish production. The ban was increased from 45 days to 60 days in 2017. Thousands of fishermen would be rendered jobless during the ban period, Rameswaram Fishermen Association President, P Sesuraja said.

He urged the state government to increase the compensation of Rs 5,000 given to fishermen for the loss of income during the ban period to Rs 10,000. Among the other demands put forth to the government were steps to secure the release of Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by the Lankan Navy for allegedly straying into the island nation’s waters.