Cyclone Hudhud hit fisheries hard in October, 2014, and fishermen have not yet recovered from it; therefore the State and Union Governments have to come to their help, say leaders of fishermen’s associations.

The Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour Workers’ Union leaders - JD Naidu and K Vajram - said the Union Government had increased the fisheries conservation period from the usual 47 days to 61 days this year and as a result fishermen were not be able to put out to sea from April 15 to June 15; and it is the responsibility of the Government to compensate us for loss of livelihood, especially after the Hudhud blow, they say.

They conceded that while the enhanced conservation period would lead to better replenishment of fisheries resources, fishermen would be put to hardship during the 61-day period. Therefore, each family should be paid ₹200 per day and rice should also be given, they demanded.

Storm damage They said the fishing harbour was badly hit by Hudhud; the damage in the harbour alone was estimated at ₹100 crore. But the Government had released some relief for workers of 21 fishing boats at ₹10,000 per head, and the others had been ignored. They should also be given compensation, they said.

In all, 675 mechanised boats, 800 motorised boats and 20 trawlers are operating from the fishing harbour here. An estimated 20,000 workers are dependent directly or indirectly on fisheries activities here.

Ch Satyanaryana Murthy, the president of Dolphin Boat Operators’ Association, said repairs to boats damaged in the cyclone were being undertaken now during the fishing ban period.

“Most of the boats are badly damaged, and Government help is grossly inadequate. inancial institutions are also not willing to to lend to us. We are forced to resort to private finance at exorbitant rates of interest,” he said.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW