The 45-day annual ban on fishing will come into effect from the intervening night of April 14 and 15.
As mandated by the Tamil Nadu Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1983, the ban will be enforced for conservation of species propagation during the breeding season. It will end on the midnight of May 29.
About 5,262 mechanised boats across the 13 coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will keep off sea during the period. Any violation will attract a penalty under Section 5 of the Tamil Nadu Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1983, Joint Director of Fisheries Subburaj told The Hindu.
Meanwhile, the row between the fishing villages of Akkarapettai and Nambiyar Nagar over the landing of boats with fish caught using purse seine nets was temporarily resolved. Akkarapettai, as the head of fishing village, lifted the ban.
Early last week, Akkarapettai banned the landing of fishing boats with purse seine catch at the Nagapattinam harbour, arguing that the indiscriminate catch affected the fishing economy and brought the prices down.
The boats were asked to land in their respective fishing villages to ensure that there was no dumping of catch in the harbour. The move also followed the bilateral talks between the fisherfolk of India and Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan fishermen condemned the use of banned nets by their Indian counterparts.
Speaking to The Hindu, Akkarapettai panchayatdhar Thiruvaraiselvan said the ban was lifted after the mediation by Minister for Fisheries K.A. Jayapal.
2014, The Hindu