Centre’s push to tuna long liners to get more fishermen on board

National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) senior consultant Dr R Suresh speaking to DTNext said, “The Union government is readying a scheme for tuna long line fishing. The scheme is yet to be finalised and it will be implemented through state governments as fishing is a state subject.” 

“As of now, only Tamil Nadu has a scheme to encourage fishermen to go for tuna long liners,” he added. 

The Tuna Long Liner scheme was initially mooted to encourage Rameswaram fishermen to opt for deep sea fishing, as their livelihood gets affected by the frequent territorial conflicts with the Sri Lankan Navy. But there were no takers among them.  

State government, to make the scheme more attractive for the fishermen, hiked the subsidy portion from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. Such an increase in the subsidy had encouraged seven fishermen from Royapuram to opt for the scheme.

Fisheries department officials said “better and increased catch of tuna, economic viability and improved returns are the reasons that encouraged Royapuram fishermen to opt for tuna long liners. The wooden hulled tuna long liners are being built in Karaikal and are expected to reach Chennai in a month’s time.”