Chennai, May 31 (BPNS)
Tamil Nadu fishing department in its annual inspection report in the Nagapattinam district has found that 119 fishing vessels were not registered. The department of fishing in Tamil Nadu has undertaken an annual inspection of vessels between May 25 and 26.
The department, according to a statement on Tuesday said it inspected 1580 vessels and found that 119 vessels including 76 purse seine boats were not registered with the department. It may be noted that registration with the concerned state fisheries department is a mandatory requirement for fishermen to wade out on seas. With the hostile Sri Lankan navy arresting Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu on minor charges like crossing International Marine Boundary Line (IMBL) for compensation and insurance and all other government-related compensation, the registration of vessels are compulsory.
Other than Nagapattinam, Myladuthurai district also reported 78 vessels that were not registered and 69 of these vessels were purse seine vessels.
Nine trawlers were also reported in the district without license and fisheries department officials told BPNS that most of these trawlers were bought recently and hence not registered. A fishing trawler owner from Nagapattinam, Rajashekharan while speaking to BPNS said, “ We just bought this trawler and will register soon”.
Boat owners association also told BPNS that most of the new vessels are yet to be registered and will be conducting awareness among boat owners for conducting mandatory registration.
