Fishermen associations of five districts today voiced concern over amendments made to a Sri Lankan fisheries legislation with provisions to impose huge penalties on foreign vessels poaching in their waters. They sought the intervention of Chief Minister K Palaniswami to step up pressure on the Centre to take it up with the island nation's government to withdraw the amendments to the Foreign Fisheries boats Regulation Act. The Act aims to prevent illegal fishing activities in the Sri Lankan waters and protect the fisheries and aquatic resources of the country's coastal belt. The associations will be meeting the chief minister on February 28 in this regard, a resolution passed at a meeting here said. Representatives of the fishermen associations of Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram districts took part in the meeting. Speaking to reporters, Leader of Mallipattinam fishermen association, Tajdeen said the amendments have come as a "rude shock" and would destroy their livelihood. "If no action is forthcoming, we will resort to statewide road rokos," he added.
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