Coastal community upset over 4-month fishing ban

When DTNext visited the residents of Nochi Kuppam, locals said that the GO would be detrimental to their livelihood besides raising questions as to what they will do during the period. S Rupesh Kumar, treasurer, Mayilai Nochi Kuppam Fishermen Gram Sabha (MNKFGS) said, “the GO is completely unacceptable and it is wrong that fishing by mechanised and country crafts lead to mortalities of Olive Ridley turtles. If such a formula is correct, all the ports in TN where big ships berth should also be closed.” Kumar added that the Nochi Kuppam was the city’s oldest fishing hamlet and there were around 1,500 families of fishermen. K Bharathi, deputy leader, MNKFGS said the government earlier tried to shift their hamlet, but in vain. 

“We are earning from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000 per day to make our ends meet. We need to educate our children and we need money for that. In such a situation, placing a ban on our occupation will force us to beg on streets,” he said and added that it is because they knew nothing other than fishing.  Similarly, women in the area said that these days it was a curse to live in the fishermen community. “We face a lot of social stratifications and recent GO bears a testimony to this. The government should understand how hard the fishermen strive to earn money every day to day. Show mercy on us and do not let us down,” says A Sellammal, a resident in the locality.

Condemning the GO, the fishermen in 15 villages across the city are to stage protest on Friday. “The city has around 15 fishing hamlets and we are planning to hold protest in Nochikuppam and all the fishermen showed their support,” said Bharathi.