Fishermen stir results in Rs 4 cr production loss

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Jan 29 (UNI) The indefinite strike by fishermen of Rameswaram, which entered its fourth day today, has caused a production loss of Rs 4 crore so far to the Fishing industry.

More than 3,000 fishermen of over 850 registered mechanised fishing boats in Rameswaram are on strike from January 19, demanding the removal of Under Water Defence System (UWDS) containing mines between Katchatheevu and Neduntheevu in the high seas installed by the Sri Lankan Navy, immediate release of Indian fishermen arrested by the Lankan Navy recently and dropping of stringent action against fishermen by the authorities for crossing Indian waters.

Official sources said the fishermen used to catch 50,000 tonnes of fish per day that included lobsters, squids, prawns, seers and crabs valued at Rs 2 lakh.

Normally, mechanised boat fishermen venture into the sea for fishing thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Apart from local consumption, a sizable quantity of lobsters, large-sized prawns, seers, crabs and squids are transported to Kochi, Tuticorin and Chennai ports for export to foreign countries.

The strike had crippled the production and fishing operations in Rameswaram.

About 10,000 people, including fishermen, mechanised boat owners, agents, workers and others depending upon the Fishing industry in the island were affected due to the strike, the sources added.

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