CSG personnel thwart dynamite fishing bid in Ramanathapuram dist

Felix Suresh Peter, Inspector of Police, CSG, said they received a tip-off that a few fishermen intended to adopt dynamite fishing method.

A group of nine men were found in possession of explosive substances. However, upon seeing the police personnel, eight of them sped away leaving behind the explosives. Police arrested K Karmegam of Pudukudi Colony in Thondi,

A total of 46 gelatin sticks and 21 other explosive substances were seized. Thondi police have filed a case under Section 5 of Explosive Substances Act. The accused was produced before the Tiruvadanai Judicial Magistrate Court and lodged in prison, the Inspector said.

Sources said incidents involving dynamite fishing were brought under control of late. However, patrolling along the shore waters could not be carried out in recent days due to technical problems faced by the speed boats in the CSG’s fleet.

“Capitalising on this situation, some fishermen indulged in the illegal activity. Currently, two of our boats are not operational. We would normally carry out patrolling in shore waters up to a distance of five nautical miles,” the Inspector said.

When contacted, N Neethi Selvan, Professor, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi, said dynamite fishing method was used to net shoal forming fishes especially sardines in shore waters.

“The explosive sound would cause a shoal of fishes to lose its equilibrium and ultimately die. However, awareness programmes were being organised for fishermen under the topic of ‘responsible fishing at sea’ to prevent such illegal fishing method, which would adversely affect marine biodiversity,” he said.