Thoothukudi
Nearly after nine months, 177 mechanised boats, including those that are not eligible for registration, ventured into the sea early on Monday morning.
Only 92 boats among those that made sail are eligible for registration even after the latest Government Order was passed, which relaxed the norms for registration. Under the order, mechanised boats can have a maximum length of 24m and an engine power of 240 HP, while under the earlier norms (Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act 1983), boats less than 20m in length and an engine power of 180HP could be registered.
Even after the G.O. was passed right around the time when the 61-day fishing ban was lifted, the boats could not leave the harbour as a weather warning was announced. However, the warning was taken down at around 9.30 p.m. on Sunday.
Collector Sandeep Nanduri said that action would be taken against unregistered boats that went fishing. He said that nearly 100 boats had applied for registration.
“The boats would have gone into the sea even if the warning had been on. The owners had put a signboard next to the weather warning saying that the boats would take to the sea the next morning” said a boat owner.
However, the weather warning was taken down later in the night.
The rest of the boats could not go because of labour shortage. However, they are also expected to go fishing in the next few days.
Most of the fishermen who went to neighbouring districts in search of alternative employment have returned.
Meanwhile, sources say that a subsidy for boats to comply with norms is on the anvil. It is said that the cost of installation of new engines, which amounts to nearly ₹9 lakh, would partly be subsidised by the Government. The rest of the bill would be footed by the boat owners, and partly through bank loans.