Bad weather halts fishing operations in four southern coastal districts

Several boats stayed on the shore in four coastal southern districts of Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram and Kanniyakumari.

The situation was the same since last week because of the rain and inclement weather in the sea. Winds measuring a speed of 35 to 55 kmph swept the region in the Bay and adjoining Indian Ocean, according to the data recorded by the Meteorological Department. On Monday also, the met department warned the fishermen against venturing into the sea.

Usually, when weather is abnormal beyond 45 to 55 speed per nautical mile, the fishermen would be warned not to venture into the sea, Fisheries Department sources said. However, it is during the windy days the catch would be good according to fishermen.

Now, the fishermen are sitting fingers crossed wondering when the weather would turn normal and they could resume of fishing activities.

Thoothukudi Joint Director of Fisheries R. Amal Xavier told DTNext that 420 mechanised boats in the district remained on the shore following the weather alert. Some country boats were engaged in fishing in shallow waters, he said.

Even after the fishermen of Ramanathapuram district gave up their strike, which was called by the association seeking attention of government to release the detained boats in the custody of the Sri Lankan government last week, they could not resume fishing owing to poor climatic conditions.

As for Regional Deputy Director of Ramanathapuram, E. Kathavarayan, the routine at sea for around 1,520 mechanised boats and 5,000 country crafts was affected for the last four consecutive days.

With a vast coastline of 1,084 km in State, which comprises 13 coastal districts, a total of 5,800 registered mechanized boats from 603 coastal villages would normally engage in fishing. Among the total length of coastline, Ramanathapuram constitutes about one fifth of the coastline running to 237 kilometers, Kathavarayan said.