11 fishermen held, released under goodwill gesture

It is said that 11 fishermen from Nagapattinam had ventured from Akkaraipettai into the sea two days ago. While they were casting their nets off Kodiyakarai coast, their boat developed a technical snag and they drifted towards Sri Lanka. The coast guard and navy personnel arrested them for crossing the IMBL. They were then taken to the Karai naval base.

The fishermen narrated the entire episode to the naval personnel. Naval base Comander Dharshan Rethiya Raj discussed the incident with the Naval chief Ranasinge. Later, the officials released the fishermen as a good will gesture. Their boat was also repaired in the naval base.

In the meantime, fishermen community are preparing to celebrate the World Fisheries day. Fisheries department officials led by Joint Director Reena Selvin held a meeting with the fishermen and advised them not to cross the IMBL.

MADURAI: On the occasion of World Fisheries Day, on November 21, fishermen demand a separate Ministry for Fisheries at the centre. They also demanded the government to fulfil some of their long-pending issues.

As part of the celebrations, various events to highlight the importance of the fishing profession, will be conducted. Justin Antony of International Fishermen Development Trust (INFIDET), said that the prime demand of the fishermen is to carve out a separate Ministry for Fishing in the Union government from the present Union Ministry for Agriculture.

Only if a separate Fishing Ministry is formed in the centre, more funds would be allotted and the problems of fishermen would be addressed immediately, they said.

Another problem faced by them is deep sea cyclone. It is said that fishermen disappear in large numbers when it strikes and their families are left without compensation. So, they sought deep sea cyclones also to be announced as national disasters as only then relief would reach the affected families, said Antony.