Andra Pradesh fishermen demand ransom to free Tamil Nadu boats

“With catch dwindling off the Chennai coast, local fishermen are forced to move further along the coast for a good catch,” said S Anbu, a fish wholesale agent, who has relatives on the seized boats. “Kasimedu fishermen who fish off the Andhra Pradesh coast have their boats seized by local fishermen who then demand up to Rs 50, 000 per boat for their release,” said former MLA and president of the TN mechanized vessel fishermen’s association S Venugopal. “Some time ago we paid this amount for 43 boats each as no amount of pleading with AP officials helped. They sided with their fishermen and told us in no uncertain terms not to come to their area to fish” he added. 

Venugopal said, “Association representatives and officials of the state fisheries department plan to leave for Nellore in AP on Friday night and from there find the exact location where the seized fishermen are held”. 

A 12-day trip off Kasimedu coast with a crew of 7-10 persons per boat costs a lakh and thus fishermen can sail only twice or thrice a month. This would cost them nearly three lakh and this expense can be met only by a good catch. What is surprising is that though such seizures take place on high seas, AP fishermen always claim that TN fishermen were nabbed within AP coastal limits. “Such seizure and  resultant ransom demand affect the livelihood of Kasimedu fishermen who are pushed to penury,” Venugopal averred.