Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 23: Misunderstanding has arisen once again between New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) and fishermen on the issue of anchoring of fishing boats at NMPT for the safety of the fishermen during adverse climatic conditions.

Fishermen leaders said that a few boats which had left for deep-sea fishing had taken shelter at NMPT on account of heavy rainfall. They charged the NMPT officials of forcing the boats to leave. They have urged to allow them to stay anchored at NMPT in the interests of the safety of the fishermen.

The fishermen say that boats which had left from here for deep-sea fishing before the issuance of red alert were busy undertaking fishing at Karwar, Goa border etc. Because of sudden changes of the climate at sea, a red alert was issued till September 24 and fishermen were warned. As such as a measure of safety the boats have sought shelter inside NMPT but now the boats are being told to leave without any reason, they said.

Fishermen's leader Mohan B said that it has become impossible to return to fishing port because of the fact that the sea is rough near the estuary. He said that over 175 deep-sea fishing boats have anchored at the NMPT and these boats have over 1,500 fishermen. He said that taking into account red alert till September 24, there is no other option but to stay here in order to save the boats costing several lacs of rupees from suffering damages. Fishermen's leader Rajaratna Sanil said that two trawler boats have encountered problems near Karwar and have got stuck in sand. He urged the NMPT not to pressurise the boats to leave under these conditions.

A release by NMPT said that fisheries trawler boats which faced problems due to inclement weather have been given shelter at NMPT. "We are governed by International Ships and Ports Security rules and none of the trawlers or other boats and ships can be allowed in without proper documents or security information. NMPT has been requesting the fisheries department repeatedly to create digital documents and take safety measures but no such system has been put in place. Therefore, under emergency situations safety rules are being compromised. Still, NMPT under humanitarian consideration and local needs has been allowing boats to be anchored here. But in the light of country's security and interests of the fishermen, the fisheries department has to adopt digitalised safety system so that there is no confusion, it said.

Deputy director of fisheries Parshwanath said that the fishing boats are unable to return to the fishing dock because of the fact that the sea is turbulent near the estuary and therefore for the present they are anchored at NMPT.