The dispute between the fishermen of deep sea trawlers and purse seine boats was resolved amicably at a meeting chaired by Minister for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, Pramod Madhwaraj, at the Malpe Fisheries Harbour here on Wednesday. Speaking to presspersons after the meeting, Satish Kundar, president of the Malpe Fishermen’s Association, said that fishermen of deep sea trawlers were on a strike against unscientific fishing in the sea for the last 17 days. Though the association held two meetings to resolve the issue, they were not successful. Ten representatives each of deep sea trawlers and purse seine boats attended the meeting held under the auspices of the association on Wednesday. It was decided at this meeting that the fishermen of deep sea trawlers would withdraw their strike immediately (on Wednesday itself) and engage in fishing from Thursday. The purse seine boats too would launch fishing immediately. It was decided at the meeting to follow the orders of the government with regard to bull trawling and fishing by using lights. Accordingly, the fishermen of trawl boats had agreed not to do bull trawling, while the fishermen of purse seine boats had agreed not to do fishing using lights. It was decided that fishermen’s associations would not go to the media with their problems. Instead, they would try to solve their problems under the auspices of the Malpe Fishermen’s Association, the mother body, under which 22 different fishermen’s associations worked. Some informal arrangements had been worked out as there were many fishermen’s associations and the livelihood of a large number of people working at the Malpe Fisheries Harbour depended on it, he said. To a query, Mr. Kundar said that in the interests of the fishermen, it had been informally agreed between the associations that fishing by using lights could be done till the end of February. This arrangement was meant for this time only. From next year, the government orders would be followed on bull trawling and fishing by using lights. This had been done in the interests of all fishermen. It was also decided both fishermen of deep sea trawlers and purse seine boats would work together harmoniously without any bitterness, Mr. Kundar said. There was tight police security around the Menugarara Samudaya Bhavan, where the meeting was held. Fishermen of deep sea trawlers were on a strike against unscientific fishing in the sea for the last 17 days