Centre, State differ on fishing ban period, fishermen confused

However, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said that the reduction of ban period by the Centre will favour fishermen and the state will take all steps to ensure that fishing operations resume by June 1.

“Initially, when the lockdown was announced on March 23, the state announced that the fishing ban period will commence immediately and the 61-day ban period will end by May 24. But, the Centre has announced that the ban period had commenced from April 15 and will end on May 31. Both the orders are confusing,” said K Bharathi, president, South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association, to DT Next.

When the fishermen were expecting a formal announcement of the end of ban around May 24, the Centre on Monday said that the ban period commenced from April 14 and the shortened period will end on May 31.

Despite the confusion over ban period, fishermen said that the revocation is of no use until the state reopens the fish markets. “Already the fish markets are closed and no alternate space was provided. Even if fishing through mechanised boat resumes, fishes will be sold only to agents who will fix the price and fishermen will not have any benefit,” said Bharathi. Moreover, a major chunk of revenue for fishermen comes from exports and the government has not spelt out any relaxation for marine products exports, he added.

Improper maintenance of boats in the last two months due to lockdown will also pose a challenge to fishermen. “Usually, during the fishing ban the mechanised boats and nets would be repaired, but now due to lockdown they were not maintained. Mechanised boat fishermen do not have sufficient funds to undertake repair works. Fishing cannot be resumed as such,” said Dr RV Kumaravelu, National vice president, National Fish Workers Forum.

Though the Centre’s nod for resuming fishing by mechanised boats along the east coast of Tamil Nadu from June 1 is a welcome development for fishermen and stakeholders relying on the fishing industry, there are many practical concerns to set sail. The 61-day annual fishing ban, which effected from April 15, on mechanised boats has been withdrawn earlier this year that is approximately 15 days ahead of the deadline.

M Dharmapichai, a fisherman from Thoothukudi on Tuesday said the resumption of fishing was a welcome relief for fishermen, who were rendered jobless for over two months now. But the fishermen, mechanised boat owners and traders would be content only when the demand for seafood in market returns to its normal or pre-lockdown levels. With the COVID-19 induced lockdown restrictions in effect, all borders have been sealed barring the entry of traders into Thoothukudi district from other parts of southern districts in Tamil Nadu and from neighbouring Kerala.

Meanwhile, RJ Bosco, joint secretary of Thoothukudi Deep Sea Mechanised Boat Fishing Development Association, said boat operators were ready to venture into the sea, but were waiting for the ‘standard operating procedures.’ If the measures are favourable, fishing would resume.