Marine Fishing

Fisheries, The Economic backbone of this coastal District. Having a long coastal area, This District plays a major role in marine commodities. The marine ecosystem provides mankind with food, medicines, industrial products and pleasure. This ecosystem has to be maintained in a healthy state, if it is to provide people the benefits in a sustained manner. Natural, healthy ecosystems have evolved over millions of years, resulting in complex interactions of the environment and all the species living in them. Such interactions allow the optimal utilization of the ecosystem resources by a maximum number of species that includes the human beings. The waters along the Bay of Bengal coast of India are biologically very productive and possess several unique environmental features. However, little is known on the marine biodiversity resources along the Bay of Bengal coast near Sirkali Taluk, Nagapattinam District (Tamilnadu State). Numerous industries, chemical factories and aquaculture farms are also developing along this coast, which already threatens the mangrove forests and marine life along the coast in Sirkali Taluk. It is essential to s cientifically understand

The interactions between biodiversity and the environment in these waters, in order to conserve and protect the ecosystems for future generations. The Bay of Bengal coast where the proposed project site (Sirkali Taluk, Nagapattinam District), is located in Tamilnadu State, lies in the monsoon belt and receives high rainfall. In near-shore areas, the mixing of nutrient rich bottom waters and warm surface waters creates conditions similar to up-welling and the number and intensity of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal are likely to increase due to global warming. The input of freshwater and silt impacts the salinity of the coastal and estuarine waters as well as coastal circulation patterns. Some coastal areas serving as nursery grounds for commercially valuable species of prawns are polluted. The areas of critical biological diversity are the mangrove rich habitat along the coast of Nagapattinam District. Catamaran is a light watercraft and is named from the Tamil language words kaTTu ‘tie’ and maram ‘wood, tree’: simply two trees tied together.

The catamaran was the invention of the paravas, an aristocratic fishing community in the southern coast of Tamilnadu State, south India. Building a catamaran is a community affair in small fishing villages and it is a decentralized labor-absorbing activity. This also helps distressed people be occupied in creative ways. The traditional coastal-fishing is considered a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems

The Guidelines

Fisherfolk here have been instructed to carry Auto- Identification System enabled-Gl’S devices in fishing boats to facilitate easy tracking and rescue in the event of technical snags in mid-sea. This forms part of the slew of advisories issued by the Department of Fisheries in the light of the recent attacks on fisherfolk and incidents of missing fishermen. Fisherfolk have been strictly instructed not to breach the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and outstation trawlers required to seek anchor permission from the Department of Fisheries to drop anchor within Nagapattinam waters. The advisories have also come in the wake of northeast monsoon that throws up incidents of boat capsize each year. Fishing boats have been advised to carry a radio in order to keep tab of monsoon advisories and return ashore in the event of cyclone warning. Fishing boats should ensure life buoys and life jackets, along with emergency gadgets such as cell phones, battery lights, whistles and 1 white cloth for signalling SOS s before venturing into the sea. Trawlers are mandated to fly the tri-colour, and should host in bold black letters the registration numbers of the trawlers. Further, the trawler should host fluorescent orange paint allotted for the district on either side, up to a height of 1to 1.5feet. Fishermen are mandated to carry along identity cards. All fibre-reinforced boats and country boats shall be duly registered by the Department of Fisheries, and the registration certificates carried along while fishing. Additionally’ all boats bought outside the district shall be produced before the Department for due process of registration before being put to fishing. Suspicious objects found on sea, or suspicious boats and persons found within the territorial waters shall be immediately communicated to the police and the Department of Fisheries. Fishermen are forbidden from taking along women and children into the sea. An advisory forbidding fishermen from venturing into search operations unilaterally on the lookout for missing boats in times of bad weather has also beeeen issued. Fishermen have been told to engage the coastal police and Department of Fisheries in search operations

National Fishermen / Women Savings cum Relief Scheme

This scheme envisages and supports the Fishermen / Fisherwomen financially during fishing off season i.e) October to December. Members of fishermen / Fisherwomen Co-operative Society those who are below poverty line, engaged in full time fishing and age between 18 to 60 are eligible for this Scheme. Each fishermen/ Fisherwomen have to pay Rs. 70 per month for 8 months from January onwards and Rs. 40 for the 9th month. The total amount collected from fishermen is Rs. 600 and the contribution by Central/ State Government is Rs. 1200/- . Thus the contribution of Rs. 1800/- will be distributed to fishermen /Fisherwomen in 3 equal monthly installments of Rs. 600/- each.

Registration of Fishing Boats

Registration and licensing of fishing boats is done by the department after proper inspection as per the Tamil Nadu Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1983

Issue of Identity Card to fishermen

Monitoring work for proper fishing is done by fisheries, coast guard and police official by issuing individual ID Cards to fishermen. 14962 ID Cards were issued up to now for fishermen in nagapattinam District. Recently, for the issuance of Bio-metric I.D.Card to all fishermen their photographs and data entries were gathered and recorded. Further process is going on.

Fishing Ban period relief assistance to fishermen

In order to protect the fisheries resources, fishing ban period have been announced during the fish breeding season in the eastern coast, the ban period is from April 15 to May 29. Mechanized fishing boats are not allowed for fishing during this period. The following relief amount has been disbursed to the beneficiaries.

Fishermen Accident Group Insurance Scheme

Members of fishermen cooperative societies who are aged between 18 to 65 are eligible to this scheme. Annual premium for the insurance is Rs 30 and the same is contributed by the Central and State Government on 50:50 basis. Rupees one lakh is given as relief for death while fishing and rupees fifty thousand is given as relief for the handicapped while fishing.

Fishermen Accident Indivdual Insurance Scheme

Members of fishermen cooperative societies are eligible to this scheme. Annual premium amount is Rs. 70/- Rupees one lakh is given as relief for death or full handicapped fisher folk and rupees fifty thousand as relief for partial handicapped.

Diesel Supply to Fishing Boats

Sales tax exempted diesel is supplied to fishing boats through TNFDC Bunks and selected private bunks. Required quantity of diesel for fishing boats are released daily ascertaining the hours of voyage and hours of fishing. Periodical inspection is done and the fishermen are allowed to carry the diesel only in the diesel tank of fishing boats. 560 mechanized fishing boats and 336 traditional fishing boats with outboard engine gets benefited with sales tax exempted diesel in nagapattinam District

Reimbursement of Central Excise Duty on HSD oil for Mechanised Fishing Boats

1. Beneficiary shall be a owner of less than 20 meters length mechanized fishing boat.
2. The boat should have been registered with the Department on or before 31.3.2002 and posses the license for fishing.
3. Log books should be maintained.
4. The diesel shall be purchased only in the Fisheries Department approved bunks and used for fishing purpose only.
5. Eligible fishing craft owners shall get subsidy of Rs.3.00/liter with ceiling of 500 liters/boat per month during active fishing months. The owners of the Mechanized Fishing boats should be below poverty line.

Regulation of berthing places for fishing crafts

All country fishing vessels both motorized and non motorized are berthed in the scattered marine fishing villages. Their movements for fishing crafts are constantly watched by the department officials.

Supply of outboard engine to traditional fishing boats in subsidized rate [Motorization of Traditional Craft]

Traditional fishing boats which are registered and licensed through the department are eligible to avail the subsidy for outboard engine purchase at 50 % level.

Tamilnadu Fishermen Welfare Board

The following Welfare Schemes are implemented for the labors involved in fishing and allied activities by the Tamil Nadu Fishermen Welfare board. This scheme is applicable to the labors who are involved in Fishing / Allied activities and the members shall be in the age group of 18 to 65 years.

1. Accidental Death
2. Death while Fishing
3. Missing while Fishing
4. Natural Death
5. Disability due to accident
6. Funeral Expense
7. Educational Assistance to Children
8. Marriage Assistance
9. Delivery/Abortion/Miscarriage assistance
10. Old Age Pension

Daily relief to Marine Fishermen apprehended in other countries

By entering into other adjacent countries borders, fishermen are caught by them and apprehended in their countries. If fishermen enters accidentally into other countries they will be caught and apprehended by them. In such cases a relief amount Rs.50/- per day is offered by the Government until he returns.

Daily relief assistance to the families of missing fishermen

In case of missing fishermen who is enrolled as a member in Fishermen Co-operative Society a relief amount of Rs.50/- per day is offered by the Government to that fishermen’s family until be returns.

Relief to the families of deceased/injured fishermen subjected to attack by Sri Lankan Navy

In cases such as death/injury to fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy shooting a relief amount is offered to the families by the Government 5 lakhs.

Cash awards to the Top ranking students in 10th & 12th std. Public Examinations belonging to fishermen community

To encourage the fishermen community students in their studies, the Government have announced an ex-gratia payment to the Top ranking boys and girls who are doing 10th and 12th as follows.

12th State top ranking Boy & Girl

cash award of Rs.5000/-

12th Dist.top ranking Boy & Girl

cash award of Rs.3000/-

10th State top ranking Boy & Girl

cash award of Rs.3000/-

10th Dist.top ranking Boy & Girl

cash award of Rs.1000/-

10th Dist.IInd ranking Boy & Girl

cash award of Rs.500/-

Training to fisher youth

Junior Mechanic course

Candidates between 18-35 years of age, 8th standard pass, 5 years fishing experience can join this training course with a stipend of Rs.400/- month through out 10 months.

Modern fishing methods

Candidates between 18-35 years of age and have 5 years sea experience can join in this training. He will be given Rs.400/- month as stipend during this 10 months course

Strengthening the Coastal Security

Regular meeting with the fishermen of the fishing villages are convened by the Asst. Director of Fisheries to enlighten the importance of security issues, advising them about IMBL prohibition, serious issues of illegal fishing and to get support from the fishermen for imposing coastal security along with police officials.

Assistant Director of Fisheries [Marine]

• National Savings- cum- Relief scheme for Marine Fishermen
• Savings- cum- Relief scheme for Marine Fisherwomen
• Enhanced Financial Assistance of Rs.2000/- to Marine Fishermen Families during Fishing Ban period.
• Special Allowance of Rs.4000/- for fishermen families during Non-fishing period.
• Conversion / Upgradation of fishing crafts into Tuna liners @ 25% subsidy.
• Group accident insurance scheme for fisher-folk.
• Fishermen personal accident insurance scheme.
• Motorisation of Traditional Crafts.
• Cash awards to 10th and +2 students belonging to fishermen community.
• Payment of daily relief to the Missing fishermen family while conducting fishing into the sea.
• Fishermen Welfare Board schemes.
• Fishermen free housing scheme.
• Scheme of creating employment opportunities to educated fishermen youth through up gradation of skills in Maritime Education and Nautical Sciences.

Assistant Director of Fisheries [Fishing Harbour Management]

• Coordinating with the Thoothukkudi port trust for Fishing Harbour maintenance
• Registration of fishing vessels
• Renewal of licence
• Enforcement of marine fishing regulation act and rules
• Liaise with marine fishermen groups to maintain harmony and peace in Fishing Harbour premises and fishing zones
• Safety and rescue operations of marine fishermen.

Assistant Director of Fisheries [Aquaculture]

• Guiding and assisting the shrimp farmers to register their farms with coastal Aquaculture Authority.
• Creating the resources to culture marine fish in Brackish water farms.
• Carrying out extension activities such as Inland Fish culture activities at Nagapattinam District.
• Carrying out research Project on fish shrimp disease and control.
• Carrying out new project such as Fresh water / Brackish water fish culture technology to Self Help Group (SHG) to generate self employment.
• Stock enhancement of inshore Fishery resources by sea ranching programme Rearing of shrimp / Fish seeds Model farms and stocking at Sea.
• To uplift the socio-economic status of Tsunami affected fishermen/Fisherwomen by organizing training programmes under Swarna Jayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana.
• Implementation of other line departments specialized Fisheries schemes.

Assistant Director of Fisheries [Extension and Training]

• Conducting training courses to fishermen in the following discipline.
  • Modern Fishing Course [Duration 10 months]
  • Junior Mechanical Course [Duration 10 months]
• To uplift the socio-economic status of fisherfolk by organizing programmes under Swarna Jayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana.
  • Value Added Fish Product preparation.
  • Engine maintenance and Net Repair.
  • Solar drying.
• Propaganda of Fisheries Schemes through extension activities.

Assistant Director of Fisheries [Research]

• Production of cost effective feed for Trout broodstock and selected ornamental fishes.
• Environmental Impact Assesment of Shrimp farm discharges.
• Study on the Lobster fishery resources.
• Study on the prevailance of shrimp diseases.
• To study on the aggregation of fish in the available artificial reef.