‘Suicide' stir against purse seine net ban today, coastal areas tense

A heavy posse of police was posted in most of the places to avert untoward incidents. Sources said that a Government Order based on the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983 restricted the use of purse seine nets. District officials across the state, including Nagapattinam and Cuddalore, initiated strict action to prevent fishermen from using the banned nets and even seized boats and the catch of those who violated the rule.

However, fishermen from the region had widely used the banned nets as it fetched a good catch. The protesting fishermen claimed that their livelihood was at stake because of the restriction on the use of purse seine nets At the same time, it also led to frequent clashes among fishermen groups.

In such a backdrop, on July 11, the Cuddalore Fisheries department officials seized over 100 country boats from Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts for using the banned nets and also seized their catch, which they tried to auction at the Cuddalore fishing harbour. This triggered tension in the coastal belt and the fishermen launched a series of agitations demanding withdrawal of the rule on purse seine nets.

Meanwhile, on Monday (July 13), a mid-sea clash broke out between the fishermen from Thirumullaivasal and Keezhamoovarkarai over the use of the banned nets, even as a few other groups staged protest to press their demand.

Fishermen from Nagapattinam, Karaikal and Cuddalore, who held a meeting at Thirumullaivasal near Sirkazhi in Nagapattinam district, decided to stage a ‘suicide protest with families’ on Friday July 17. In Nagapattinam, fishermen families from Pazhayar to Kodiakarai have planned to jump into the sea with their families.

As a precautionary measure, tight security has been posted along the coastal areas in the region from Thursday.Police teams from Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukkottai and Nagapattinam have been drafted and deputed to patrol the coastal areas to avert any attempt by fishermen or their familiy members.