Fishing ban applies to Pudukai’s engine-run country boats: HC

Petitioner Hasan Muhaideen, representative of Mechanised Boat Owners Association from Kottaipattinam in Pudukkottai district, stated that in Kottaipattinam area there are 324 mechanised boats and in the fishing ban season implemented by the Union government that extends from April 14 to June 14, mechanised boats are not allowed to fish as the engines would affect the breeding of fishes. 

However, the country boats are exempted from the ban. But, the country boats which are fitted with engines fish in the deep sea during the ban period and return with good catch. When the country boats fitted with engines are allowed to fish they do not serve the purpose of the ban as their engines would hamper the breeding process of fishes. 

So, he prayed the court to direct the officials of Fisheries Department and the state to ban those country boats fitted with engines to venture into the sea during the fishing ban season. 

When the case was heard by Justice Ramesh on Saturday, he issued a ban on fishing by the country boats fitted with engine in Pudukkottai district and directed the officials to file a reply to the petition by June 18 and adjourned the case.