Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 28: Bending under sustained pressure of deep sea and country boat fishermen who have been demanding action against fishermen conducting fishing with the help of lights powered by generators in violation of interim high court stay against this kind of fishing, the officials, on Wednesday, took into possession such generators from four fishing boats.

District deputy director of fisheries, Parshwanath, said that in violation of law, about 40 to 45 boats have been undertaking light fishing. "Out of them, about 20 to 23 boats are in the port. By Thursday, all the generators of these boats would be seized. We have also filed complaint with the police in this regard," he added.

Fishermen under the banner of deep sea and country boat fishermen's unions, took the fisheries officials to task again on Wednesday, accusing them of failing to take steps against purse seine boat fishermen who have been conducting unscientific light fishing in violation of laws of the state and central governments, and interim order of the high court. The fishermen were extremely critical of fisheries deputy director, Parshwanath, and officials of Coastal Security Police Force. President of Deep Sea Fishermen's Association, Kishore Suvarna, speaking on the occasion, noted that repeated pleas and struggle against light fishing have not yielded the desired result and warned that if this continues, the fishermen will continue with their fight on Thursday. He noted that the purse seine fishermen have rejected the instructions of officials and left for deep sea to undertake light-based fishing. He expressed anger at the Coastal Security Police Force personnel for failing to arrest them. Fishermen leader, Dayanand K Suvarn, Vittal Karkera, Dayanand Kunder and Mahesh Suvarna were present.

Thereafter the fisheries officials along with coastal security police, took action against erring boats. Parshwanath said that the department has sent report to senior officials of the department, recommending to cancel registrations of boats which are conducting unscientific fishing in violation of court order.

In the meanwhile, All Karnataka Purse Seine Fishermen's Association, met fisheries officials on Wednesday and sought action against country boat fishermen for undertaking mechanized fishing illegally. They claimed that the country boats can use only nets with mesh size of 22 mm and above but these fishermen use 16 to 18 mm size nets which result in the destruction of mini size fingerlings. President of the association Gurudas Bangera, Malpe Purse Seine Fishermen's Association president Yashodara Ameen, Rama Suvarna, Madhu Karkera, and others were present.