1,700 fishermen return to native in south Gujarat

TNN | Apr 6, 2020, 04:40 IST

23 boats have arrived at Umargaon fishing port in Valsad over the past couple of days

Surat: At least 1,700 fishermen in 23 boats have arrived at the Umargaon fishing port in Valsad over the past couple of days. These fishermen who had gone to work along the Saurashtra coast arrived via sea route as they had no other means of transport.
Sources said that more fishermen of different villages in south Gujarat were on their way to Valsad.
They, however, faced opposition from local villagers, who objected to their landing in fearing that they might bring coronavirus infection to their villages. Valsad district has so far remain COVID-19 free. After intervention of local fishermen and political leaders, the fishermen were allowed to go to their native villages. They were screened by the local health department teams at the port itself.
One of the fishermen who had cough and fever was referred to civil hospital in Valsad town while others have been asked to observe 14 days home quarantine,” said a senior government official.
Every year, hundreds of fishermen from villages of south Gujarat go Saurasthtra coast and work as fishermen before returning after the fishing season is over.
Earlier TOI had reported that nearly 25,000 fishermen were stranded in the port areas of Porbandar, Veraval and Mangrol due to the lockdown.
While fishing activity had stopped, these fishermen were not allowed to leave the port and it was becoming difficult for the boat owners and the fishermen association to provide the fishermen with food and shelter.
The fishermen community has been the worst hit due to lockdown as 70% of the annual catch of the season is done between March and June.