Fishing goes south considering safety

Fishermen from Mandapam and Pamban were fishing in the southern seas and they were joined by fishermen of Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli. As Gulf of Mannar is present at the southern part of the Bay of Bengal, Pamban fishermen preferred the southern seas. Of late, fishermen who had been demanding their traditional fishing rights at Katchatheevu had now started to move towards southern seas.  

Sesuraj, President of Rameswaram Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association, said that the attack on fishermen by Sri Lankan had increased tremendously and they are now forced to opt for southern seas.  

Though fishing at Katchatheevu was their right, Sri Lankan Navy had employed a large number of Navy personnel and when fishermen go near the island they are stoned and nets are damaged. Though the Central government had announced that deep sea fishing would be encouraged it would not happen in another couple of years, said Sesuraj. 

Anther fisherman, Sahayam, said that southern seas are rich in marine resources due to the presence of Gulf of Mannar and 21 islands belonging to Rameswaram and Thoothukudi groups. Though Sri Lankan Navy would be present in the southern seas they need not touch the Sri Lankan border as the coastal line is wide , said Sahayam. However, the recent move of Rameswaram fishermen had got their counterparts in Pamban and Mandapam worried as they feel that there would be a strain on marine resources if all fishermen began fishing in the southern seas. 

Condemning the recent legislation of Sri Lankan government imposing heavy fine on fishermen arrested by Sri Lankan Navy, Rameswaram fishermen commenced an indefinite strike, on Sunday. 

Fishermen leaders claimed that the Sri Lankan government passed a legislation recently according to which fine to the tune of several lakhs would be imposed on fishermen arrested by their Navy. This legislation is a huge blow to Tamil Nadu fishermen as a large number of them may get arrested if they fish near Katchatheevu. Apart from that, fishermen families are dependent on daily wages. 

If arrested, they will not be able to pay the fine and their families would be left to starve. So the state and the central governments should hold talks with the Sri Lankan government and force the island nation to withdraw their legislation. They also demanded the Sri Lankan government to release more than 140 boats that were seized by them and also release the arrested fishermen. With these demands, they commenced their strike and had also decided to stage a self-immolation protest on  July 14.