The Hindu Business Line : Fishermen upset over extended ban period

Visakhapatnam, April 15 The imposition of a ban on fishing for two months this year, as against the usual 45 days, has upset local fishermen and the associations have urged the State Government to reduce the period and provide them monetary support.

The ban on fishing is imposed annually to conserve fisheries resources and to enable the breeding of shrimp and other species before the onset of monsoon. The ban on the east coast comes into force this year from Tuesday.

The Andhra Pradesh Government issued the order earlier this month, in accordance with the directive of the Union Agriculture Ministry, banning fishing from Tuesday.

The Andhra Pradesh Mechanised Boat Operators’ Association and the Visakhapatnam Dolphin Boat Operators’ Association together condemned the decision of the Government, “especially at a time when traditional fishermen are desperately struggling for survival”.

Mr P.C. Appa Rao, President of the Andhra Pradesh Mechanised Boat Operators’ Association, said the decision was highly deplorable and “we have sent urgent messages to the Government to reconsider it”. He sought the issue of a fresh Government order restricting the ban to 45 days.

Costs and compensation

He said the owners would have to spend heavily during the layoff period on maintenance and overhauling of the boats, roughly Rs 2 lakh or so for a vessel, and they would be in trouble if the ban were extended to two months.

Mr Appa Rao and other association leaders also appealed to the State to follow the example of the Puducherry Government by giving 60 kg of rice per month and Rs 300 to each crew member during the ban period.

They said the Government should make the ban period uniform on both the east and west coast, and the boat owner should be paid Rs 10,000 for every boat as compensation.

Mr Ch. Narasinga Rao, District Secretary of the CPI(M), in a separate statement, condemned the extension of the conservation period and sought suitable compensation to the fishermen and boat owners during the period.

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