Purse seine fishermen urge legal action

Team Udayavani, Feb 28, 2019, 3:28 AM IST

• Mechanised boats used for fishing in the name of traditional boats  

Malpe: With the tag of traditional boats, many boats are illegally using mechanized boats to do fishing throughout the karavali and legal action must be taken against them, urged the All Karnataka Pure Seine fishermen association with the Malpe deputy director of fisheries at his office .

The fishermen demanded that clear information be provided within 5 days regarding the action taken against traditional boats who in the guise of protecting the fish resource are illegally using mechanized boats for fishing. If not, legal action would be initiated against him, they warned the deputy director of fisheries expressing their anger. They have submitted their request to the district deputy commissioner and various other officials of the department.

Speaking on the occasion, All Karnataka Pure Seine fishermen association president Gurudas Bangera said, the nets used in the mechanized traditional boats are mentioned as traditional nets but no clear information is given regarding the type of the net. By registering themselves as motorized boat and using a variety of nets, mechanized fishing is being conducted. Traditional boats are making use of drum wench, generator, wireless, fish finder, 2 engines of 25-40 hp and conducting fishing even during the monsoon season. By taking permission, they are using trawler nets and indulging in bull trawling, he alleged.

18 mm net

Only 26 ring seine net is permissible for fishing in the district. But more than 2,000 boats make use of ring seine nets for fishing throughout the year. As per the government’s order, only nets with more than 22 mm width may be used for fishing. But they are making use of 16-18 mm nets and there by catching small fishes and destroying the fish resource, he accused.

Of the kerosene provided to traditional boats, only 30% is provided to real fishermen and rest is sold in the black market. Stop this loss being inflicted on the government and make sure that the government’s projects reach to the real fishermen, he urged.