Fishing ban ends but bad weather keeps fisherfolk on shore
The 61-day fishing ban which was supposed to end on Friday is likely to extend for two more days, as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea due to strong winds that would turn the sea rough.
By : migrator
Update: 2018-06-14 17:20 GMT
Chennai
The two-month-long hiatus had seen the fisherfolk across Tamil Nadu coast mend their boats and fishing nets. A day before the fishing ban was slated to end, the fishermen had stocked up for the next few days, as they took to the high seas. But on Thursday evening, an advisory from the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, advised the fishermen, not to venture into the sea off Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts.
“Strong winds from South-Westerly to Westerly direction, speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 50 kmph, likely along and off North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Coast. Sea condition is likely to be moderate to rough along and off North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Coast,” the missive added.
The meteorological warning has dampened the spirits of the fisherfolk, who were eager to return to their livelihoods.
Speaking to DTNext, K Bharathi, president, South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association, said that the warning has been sent out to coastal areas extending from Puducherry to Kanniyakumari but wouldn’t affect the city’s activities.
“The fishermen from Chennai will head out in the early hours of Friday as they had planned. The winds, predicted to go up to 50-55kmph, is something which the fishermen face at this time of the year. It is not a novel phenomenon. With two months of fishing ban, everyone is raring to head out and resume their livelihood,” said the fishermen leader.
In the coastal regions of Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram, the fishing activity has been suspended and the fishing boats have not been issued the token to venture out.
“The fisherfolk have spent lakhs of rupees to fix their boats and their fishing nets to return to the sea, but the weather has played spoilsport, affecting the fisher families adversely. It is safer to stay on shore than take a risk and get stranded or lost due to bad climatic conditions.
However, we hope that the weather will clear up within a day and we can start earning to pay off our debts, accumulated during the past two months,” said Seshuraja B, secretary of All Mechanised Boats in Rameswaram Association.
THE WAIT CONTINUES
- TN’s fish production in 2016-17: 6.69lakh tonnes, ranking fourth in India
- TN's export of marine products: 79,336 tonnes
- Foreign exchange earnings: Rs 3,914.39 crore
- Marine fisher population: 9.85 lakh, in 608 villages
- Mechanised boats: 5,861
- Traditional crafts: 35,666
- 61-day fishing ban for fish reproduction: April 15 to June 14
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