Tuticorin fishermen demand urgent protection against ship damage to gear

Tuticorin: The Tuticorin District Country Boat & Fiber Boat Fishermen’s Welfare Association has sought urgent government intervention to curb the growing number of fishing net damage incidents caused by merchant vessels calling at the VOC Port, Tuticorin.In a representation submitted to Tuticorin district collector Vishu Mahajan, the association represented by its president R Vinogin, said that large commercial vessels frequently pass through the notified exclusive fishing zone off the Tuticorin coast while approaching or departing the port, damaging fishing nets and gear laid in traditional fishing grounds.The association said traditional fishermen have been fishing in these waters for generations and repeated incursions by merchant vessels have resulted in heavy economic losses, as nets are a major investment for small-scale fishermen.

It also flagged serious safety concerns, citing several near-miss incidents in which fishermen narrowly escaped being hit by large ships navigating close to active fishing areas.Association organizer T Thomas Azhi Puthiran told TOI that in 2004, there was an incident that involved a merchant ship and their traditional fishermen, in which three fishermen died. He pointed out that the then Tuticorin port trust had issued specific instructions to vessels to avoid the exclusive fishing zone in 2004.

However, they alleged that the directive is not being effectively enforced and is routinely ignored by visiting vessels.“Whenever nets are damaged, fishermen are forced to approach multiple agencies — including the fisheries department, marine police, port authorities, and ship agents — to seek compensation, a process they described as cumbersome, time-consuming, and lacking accountability. Many claims, they said, remain unsettled for long periods, aggravating financial distress,” he added.He also added that complaints were filed recently at the Tharuvaikulam and Koodankulam marine police stations regarding the damage inflicted by commercial vessels.The association urged authorities to enforce routing restrictions strictly, notify the fishing zone to international maritime bodies, update nautical charts and ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) systems, set up a dedicated grievance cell at the port, and frame a standard operating procedure for quick compensation. It has also sought a stakeholder meeting to evolve a lasting solution.