Date:17/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/17/stories/2008041755440600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Fishing continues despite ban

Special Correspondent

ONGOLE: The ban imposed on marine fishing for two months from April 15 is implemented more in breach in Prakasam district mainly due to lack of awareness and alternative employment for fishermen. Officials have not been able to use National Rural Employment Guarantee Program (NREGP) to provide alternative employment to fishermen and implement the ban effectively.

A visit to Pallepalem near Kothapatnam shows that fishermen continued their activity without any hindrance blissfully ignorant of the ban. The village elderman says that they had to go for fishing to eke out their livelihood.

The fishermen village has a population of 6000. But no work has been identified for execution in the village under the NREGP till now.

Violation

Environmentalists raised an alarm as indiscriminate fishing in deep sea led to depletion of some species. So the Central government has decided to prohibit all fishing activity in the sea during breeding season of April-June to help the species regenerate. Though the ban is being implemented for the last seven years, fishermen in Prakasam district are not aware of it and they continued fishing violating the ban.

A local activist, Umamaheswara Rao, felt the need to create awareness among fishermen about the ban and use of NREGP to provide alternative employment so that they can stay away from fishing for two months.