Fishermen rewarded as part of tuna tagging programme

Port Blair, Aug 03 (UNI) The Fisheries Survey of India (FSI), in collaboration with the IOTC, organised a tuna-tagging programme during January 18 to February 29 here.

As many as 1330 Tunas, both yellow fin and skip jack, were tagged and released back to the sea in live condition during the programme.

The fishermen of Andaman and Nicobar Islands were appraised about the recapture and suitable award was given for recapture of tagged tuna during extension programmes. In Andaman a fisherman was awarded Rs 400 by for the recapture of tagged tuna.

Recently a yellow fin tuna was recaptured by gill net by one Mr K Rajeiah, a fishermen of Port Blair, from the sea off Bunnanallah while he was fishing.

''The recaptured yellow fin tuna was produced in front of the Zonal Director, FSI, in Port Blair and the fisherman was rewarded Rs 400 immediately. The tuna fish was also returned to the fisherman,'' an official communication of FSI in Andaman said today.

The yellow fin tuna recaptured was of 86 cm length and 6.95 kg in weight.

This is the fourth instance of recapture of tagged tuna by the local fishermen and reported to the Zonal office of FSI, the sources said.

UNI SKR DPM RD 1411