Country-boat fishermen from Amali Nagar near Tiruchendur in Tuticorin district on Monday started an indefinite strike, demanding a gyrone to protect their fishing village from sea erosion. They said if the state government fails to pay heed to their demand, they would boycott the fishermen conference to be attended by chief minister M K Stalin at Ramanathapuram on August 18.
There are around 1,000 families at Amali Nagar with around 200 fiber boats involved in fishing. The village, like other coastal villages in the stretch, is facing severe sea erosion, threatening its existence. The erosion has also made fishing operations dangerous for fishermen.
The fishermen said they have been submitting petitions to the district administration and fisheries officials, but to no avail.