Ongole: Minister imposes temporary ban on seine and bottom crawler nets

Ongole: The animal husbandry and fisheries minister Dr. Sidiri Appalaraju announced that they are imposing a temporary ban on the use of bottom crawler and seine nets with less than 0.5-inch hole, up to 8 kilometers from the shore on the sea.

Minister Appalaraju along with his cabinet colleague Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, MP Mopidevi Venkataramana conducted a meeting with the fishery officials and fishermen from Vadarevu and Katarivaripalem in the district collectorate on Monday evening. He discussed the dispute between the fishermen from two villages, the types of fishing nets they are using, and their demands. He said that the government will take necessary action to protect the livelihood of the next generations. He opined that the clashes were unfortunate and announced to stop the arrests in the future and promised to liftoff the earlier cases after discussing with the chief minister. He said that they would pay the compensation for the physical losses of assets and take action as per the Marine Fisheries Regulations Act.

The minister Appalaraju announced that they are ordering the study of the bottom crawler nets and seine nets with less than 0.5 inch holes and prohibiting the use of them up to 8 kilometers in the sea, until a decision is taken on the received report. Minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy said that some persons tried to use the disputes between the fishermen for their political gain and assured all assistance from the government. MP Mopdevi Venkataramana advised them to not take their own decisions when the government is trying to cooperate with the fishermen community in all aspects. He assured that they would take a decision that was agreeable to both parties and also as per the acts in force after the report is received. The collector announced that it is banned to use mechanized and motorized fishing boats up to 8kilometers from the shore, and ordered the fishermen to cooperate and coordinate with one another.