Mechanised fishers temporarily suspend strike in Thoothukudi

THOOTHUKUDI: The mechanised vessels that were on an indefinite strike here for more than 3 months since September 20, demanding permission for night-stay fishing, resumed their activities on Wednesday.

In order to find a solution for conflicts arising between the country craft fishermen and the mechanised fishing vessels, the state Fisheries department in Thoothukudi banned night-stay fishing.

This, however, was strongly opposed by the mechanised fishing vessel owners and fish workers, who argued that banning night-stay fishing would increase fuel expenses and reduce the actual fishing time.

However, their repeated representation to the Fisheries department officials and Thootukudi and Tirunelveli district collectors failed to fructify due to the opposition of around 4,500 country craft fishermen of the two southern coastal districts, who complained that mechanised vessels returning to the shore midnight damaged the fishing nets spread by the country craft fishermen, thereby causing heavy loss.

Moreover, the State Fisheries department too fined mechanised boats for being involved in night-stay fishing, violating the fishing regulatory norms.

Thoothukudi Fisheries department officials on the instruction of the district collector also imposed a one-month fishing ban for the mechanised boats from September 20.

The mechanised boat fishermen, however, abstained from going for fishing even after the ban was lifted on October 20 and declared an indefinite strike. They have also filed a writ petition in the Madurai High court bench seeking permission for night-stay fishing. The mechanised boat fishermen too sought the court's order in registering around 160 mechanised boats that were refused registration by the Fisheries department on the ground that they did not comply with the norms of the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983.

Given this backdrop on Wednesday, the mechanised boat fishermen decided to temporarily suspend their indefinite strike in order to set right the heavy loss incurred due to their strike and obtained permission from the Fisheries department to go for fishing,

Following this development around 192 mechanised boats anchored continuously for more than three months in Thoothukudi fishing harbour ventured for fishing on Wednesday morning.

On information about the permission accorded to the mechanised boats, around 100 country craft fishermen led by heir president, Robert thronged the office of the joint director of Fisheries inside the fishing harbour and staged a demonstration.

Speaking to the agitated country craft fishermen, Amal Xavier, joint director of Fisheries, Thoothukudi said that the permission for the mechanised boat fishermen was given on humanitarian grounds, as many of the fishermen were struggling to eke out their living.

The joint director further added that the permission was given only for four days till December 30. The official too added that the 192 boats were allowed on the condition of returning to the shore before 9 pm every day.