Fishing hit in southern districts due to bad weather

Several fishing boats in coastal hamlets of Thoothukudi and its neighbouring Ramanathapuram district and Kanniyakumari district remained moored along the wharf.

According to RJ Bosco, a mechanised boat owner in Thooothukudi, normally under such windy conditions fishing operations continue as usual, but since the IMD predicted heavy rain, the Fisheries officials advised fishermen not to venture into sea on Saturday. Notices were also put up on bulletin boards at fishing harbours.

“If we receive no further warning, we will resume fishing on Monday,” he said. Around 800 mechanised boats and over 5,000 country boats at 21 coastal hamlets across Thoothukudi district did not venture into sea on Saturday. In Ramanathapuam district, however, fishing operations in the northern parts continued as usual as the weather wascomparatively pleasant.

Fishing boats set out to sea off Rameswaram, Pamban and partially off Mandapam. Meanwhile, operators of nearly 90 boats, which remained anchored in the shallow waters off Erwadi and Keelakarai of Ramanathapuram south, were not given fishing permit tokens, sources said.

In Kanniyakumari district, fishermen relying on as many as 1,031 mechanised boats and around 8,000 country crafts from 42 coastal hamlets were advised not to venture into sea until further information. Officials from the Fisheries Department said that they would keep an eye on weather updates at 9.30 pm and at 5.30 am on Sunday to alert fishermen, if required.