Scheme to swap trawlers for deep sea fishing boats

The scheme, under the aegis of Blue Revolution scheme - is funded by the Centre - 50 per cent and State government - 20 per cent for a boat costing Rs 80 lakh. Of the balance 30 per cent, 10 per cent is contributed by the beneficiary (fisherman), and the remaining 20 per cent is funded by banks.

The project aims to replace all trawler boats and introduce over 2,000 deep sea fishing boats in a course of five years with a cost of Rs 1,600 crore, Additional Director of Fisheries Johny Tom Varghese said.

The scheme - diversification of trawl fishing boats from Palk Straits into deep sea fishing boats - is aimed at encouraging fishermen to take up deep-sea fishing and put an end to disputes arising between the two countries.

Bottom trawling, an ecologically destructive practice, involves trawlers dragging weighted nets along the sea-floor, causing great depletion of aquatic resources. Varghese said that the project helps fishermen in the Palk Straits, who are not exposed to deep-sea fishing, to venture deep into the Indian Ocean, Arabian sea and other deep sea areas to look for fish like tuna that are in high demand.

“Our fishermen in the Palk Bay region are used to only one-day fishing. Deep sea fishing is a 10-30 day affair. They will be given skill development training to learn the trade,” he said.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami inaugurated the scheme on Tuesday through video conferencing by flagging off the first four boats manufactured by the Cochin Shipyard. The boats were later handed over to four fishermen.

The state-of-the-art boats, called ‘Tuna long lining and gillnetting fishing vessels,’ are equipped with modern navigation and communication equipment, besides advanced net hauling and liner winches.

Two fishing harbours, Kunthukkal and Mookaiyur, both in Ramanathapuram district are also being readied exclusively for the deep-sea fishing boats. Priority would be given to fishermen whose boats have been apprehended by Sri Lanka, a government order said.