Traditional fishermen are in a cheerful mood as the 61-day ban under enforcement from April 15 on the trawler and mechanised boat operators has been providing them a big catch. There is no competition now. Anywhere we go, we are able to get double the catch than what we used to get before the ban, Vaddamudili Vijay Kumar, owner of two teppas (catamaran) from Pudimadaka, told The Hindu. He along with five other fishers go for fishing everyday at 3 a.m. and return by 5 or 6 p.m. Now we are returning early because we are able to get net full of fish right near the shore. We are getting catch mostly comprising either tuna or vanjiram or small fish like kanagartalu and netalu, he pointed out. All days are not the same for fishermen. Sometimes we get a catch worth Rs.500 and sometimes it fetches us around Rs.2,000. During the ban period, we are able to get net full of fish mostly tuna, which has brought cheers among traditional fishermen, said Paridesi, another fisherman from Mangamaripeta. The ban is observed every year during different periods in both East Coast and West Coast to allow breeding following concern over dwindling catch. Though the ban is applicable to all motorised boats, this is not observed by some of the traditional fishermen as their fibre boats and large-size wooden boats are fitted with engines to go faster and undertake voyage for two to three days to net more fish. Consternation This has caused consternation among a large section of mechanised boats. There is a proposal to enforce the ban on all the motorised boats including traditional fishermen from the next year onwards. As the ban is not implemented in true letter and spirit, from next year we will not allow any boat having an engine to venture into sea during the ban period, a mechanised boat owner said. There is no competition now. Anywhere we go, we are able to get double the catch than what we used to get before the ban Vaddamudili Vijay Kumar Traditional fisherman The 61-day ban has been providing them a big catch
2016, The Hindu