As a result of 45-day annual fishing, all the mechanised boats has come to halt on Thursday which been announced by East Coast of Tamil Nadu as a ban on fishing. There are about 250 boats stayed back at Thoothkudi fishing harbour. The main reason for this ban is to facilitate the breeding of marine fishes.

“About 10,000 mechanised boats would not go for fishing during the ban, aimed at facilitating breeding of fish and conservation of fish stock in marine ecology, assistant director of Fisheries here,” Gopinath said.

Fisheries Department and its similar agencies would be involved in this ban and monitor the compliance. This ban will effect till May 29th. As fishermen may cause disturbances to d=breeding fishes these fishermen are instructed not to venture into the sea.

“Since country boat fishing was considered a traditional method, the ban was not binding on country boat fishermen,” sources said. Tamil Nadu region has more than 1,076 Kilo Meters long coast line and is one of the leading states in marine fish production.

“The ban would not be binding on country boats, which would continue fishing as usual,” Gopinath.

During this ban, each fishermen family is given Rs 4,000 as compensation by the State Government. Also fishermen will make their boats into working condition during this ban period.