Rameswaram: A stitch in time saves nine for fishers

Rameswaram: As the 61-day annual fishing ban is in force along the East coast from April 15 to June 15, fishermen of mechanised trawlers and boats in Rameswaram are using this window to repair their broken vessels and ironing out their jammed and twisted nets.

While nearly 1,500 mechanised boats are moored on the coast here in this pilgrim island, the fishermen community have brought out their nets, spread them near the coast and are doing intricate stitching and patchwork on fishing nets that need repair.

This helps to prepare them for the regular fishing season from June 15, says N Gnanaguru, a manufacturer of fishing nets at Mandapam near here. “This year the fishermen are focusing on getting 3,000 ‘Aayiram Kanni’ type of fishing net ready,” he said.