Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 6: Associations of Purse Seine Boat Fishermen from both Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts have expressed strong resentment at the fact that some deep sea boats have been of late, catching sardines. They allege, that because of the fact that some of these boats used specific nets meant to catch sardines,  has affected the living of the fishermen who fish in shallow waters near the shore.

A meeting of purse seine fishermen from both the districts had been convened in this respect in Malpe on Wednesday January 5. The associations have warned that strong measures to register their protest will be undertaken, if the problem is not solved soon. Gurudas Bangera, president of Malpe Purse Seine Fishermen Association, alleged that the fishermen using country boats have of late been returning home empty-handed after toiling the whole day, because of the fact that the deep sea boats have been catching the sardines traditionally caught by country boat fishermen earlier.  He said that this has affected the livelihood of thousands of fishermen.

Reportedly, most of the deep sea fishing boats functioning from Malpe and Mangalore ports are owned by fishermen from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.  Mangalore Purse Seine Fishermen Association president, Navin Karkera, expressed the apprehension that the fish breed will get extinct if this practice is allowed to be continued for long.

Fishermen leaders from various parts of the two districts including Annappa Kharvi from Gangolli, Nagaraj Suvarna, Navin Bangera, Shivanand, Sirdhar Mesta, Sukhpal Salian, Pravin Salian, Shekhar Kanchan and Pundalik Bangera, participated in the meeting.