Amid tight security, the main gate of Thoothukudi fishing harbour was locked in the presence of Tahsildar M. Ramachandran on Wednesday.
The move comes in the wake of violation of the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983, by several mechanised boat operators who overstayed in the sea for fishing. Assistant Director of Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour Management R. Ganesha Nehru told The Hindu that the harbour gate would be opened on Thursday and those who were ready to abide by the rules could venture into sea.
A total of 163 mechanised boat operators, who returned to the shore on Tuesday after flouting the rules, were barred from fishing for one month. A peace committee meeting, which lasted till 9.30 p.m. on Tuesday, ended in a deadlock as the representatives of Mechanised Boat Owners’ Association refused to accept the rules.
R.J. Bosco, a mechanised boat owner, asked whether the Act was confined only to Thoothukudi district. The Act was implemented in 1983 when traditional country boats (row boats) were operated manually without motor engines. He wondered whether the present generation of country boat operators were continuing the same old fishing method as mentioned in the Act.
The operators of country boats, designed and built as mechanised boats and being equipped with high power engines, had also been violating the rules. Also, no other coastal district seemed to be following the rules, he claimed.
Mr. Bosco said if Fisheries department officials were to take stringent action, the condition of country boats should also be checked to ensure that they were following the rules.