Green signal for deep sea fishing?
Modi government backs state to build deep-sea tuna long liners and reduce conflict with Sri Lanka
Update: 2015-10-14 06:31 GMT
Chennai: With number of incidents of Tamil Nadu fishermen crossing International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in Palk Straits and getting detained by Sri Lankan authorities on the rise, the state government is pushing hard to diversify bottom trawlers into deep-sea tuna long liners.
A detail project report (DPR) has been submitted by department of fisheries to the Centre a few months back seeking financial assistance with an estimated budget of around Rs 1,000 crore. Sources told DC that the Union government is considering backing the TN initiative, which will effectively reduce the conflict with Sri Lanka to a larger extent.
Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has been writing a series of letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on rising tensions between TN fishermen and Sri Lankan authorities and need for a permanent solution to the perennial problem. The government has been mooting the idea of introducing tuna vessels as an alternative for a couple of years now. Finally, the efforts seem to be yielding results.
However, senior officials in the department of fisheries said they are waiting for an official communication from the Centre. They say the state has immediate plans to introduce over 150 tuna vessels.
N.J. Bose, a fishermen leader in Rameswaram, said the Centre shouldn’t sit on the proposal, but immediately sanction the grants to build a fleet of tuna vessels. He appreciated the CM for announcing 50 per cent subsidy up to maximum of Rs 30 lakh to fishermen willing to convert or replace their trawlers into tuna vessels. “As of now, only six tuna vessels are under construction with state’s financial aid. This is not enough. The Centre has to fast-track its decision. More fishermen are keen on deep-sea fishing”.
Dr Lal Mohan, environmentalist and former principal scientist with ICAR, said Palk Bay region is a shallow sea area and the trawl boats, which go right to the bottom, damage the flora and fauna, even the fish eggs. “Fish and prawns are not able to procreate and stocks have depleted to dangerous levels. Because trawling is banned by Sri Lanka, their waters have good marine stocks and our fishermen knowing the risks venture into their side of IMBL”. He said deep-sea tuna fishing is a good option, but that need special skills.