Tiruchi: Fishermen in the region have appealed to the government to allow stay fishing to save them on fuel costs and avoid heavy losses. According to fishermen in the region, they are not only facing threats from the neighbouring Sri Lankan Navy, but also from rising diesel prices. According to D. Sakthivel, a mechanised boat owner from Nagapattinam, the Sri Lankan border line is very close to their area, and the government prohibits them from going beyond five nautical miles into the sea. They also use more fuel but catch very few fish, causing them huge losses. “Therefore, they are demanding both the Central and State governments to allow ‘stay fishing’, which will reduce fuel use,” he said.
Mechanised Boat Owners Association president A. Thajudeen said stay fishing was allowed in some areas of Nagapattinam, but it was banned in Thanjavur and Pudukkottai. He said, “We are allowed to get 1,900 liters of diesel with subsidy from the state government, but the diesel usage will exceed the allocation, so we get diesel without subsidy. Therefore, the government should allow us to adopt ‘stay fishing’ so that the fuel usage is reduced.” Thajudeen further said, “After the bilateral talks between India and Sri Lanka conclude smoothly, the government should consider ‘stay fishing’ activities, which will be helpful for the fishermen community.”
