Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, May 14: Speaking at a meeting organized by the fisheries department of Maharashtra at the behest of Malpe Fisheries Association, which had complained that the fishermen from Malpe were being subjected to assaults and forcible taking away of their fish catches near Ratnagiri port in Maharashtra, Maharashtra Fisheries Development Corporation official, V M Ghatki, said that boats from other states have to confine their fishing activities to beyond 12 nautical miles from the shores of the other states.

The meeting was organized at the fisheries office at Ratnagiri port on Tuesday May 10. It was attended by officials of the fisheries departments of Karnataka and Maharasthra, ports and customs departments, as well as deputy director of fisheries department from Mangalore, Suresh Kumar, and assistant director, Irfan Bungi.

He said that fishing boats can venture near the shores of other states only during emergencies like natural calamities, boat repairs, ill health of fishermen etc. He asked the fishermen to bring to the notice of fisheries department if they find boats from other states conducting fishing activities within the banned limit. He warned them that taking law into their hands will be considered a crime.

The fishermen from Malpe often conduct fishing at sea near Ratnagiri port, but the fishermen there have in the recent past, been stopping these boats, damaging their nets and other items, assaulting the fishermen, and looting their fish catches, with the allegation that these boats had entered their region.

Office bearers of Malpe Fishermen’s Association, Deep Sea Boat Owners Association, Fish Merchants Association etc, like Hiriyanna T Kediyoor, Vasudev Salian, Dayanand K Suvarna, Shivappa T Kanchan, and many others had participated in the meeting.