Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin has announced an assistance of Rs 5,000 each to 1.72 lakh fishermen across the State to sustain their livelihood in view of the annual deep sea fishing ban in force.
The 61-day fishing ban is in force in 13 East coast districts from 14 April and it would come into force in West Coast region from 1 to 31 June.
An official release here said 1,46,598 fishermen in the East Coast comprising Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Villuppuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari (part) and 25,402 fishermen in Western Coast of Kanyakumari would be benefitted by this.
The fishing ban assistance will be credited directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, according to Fisheries Minister Anitha Radhakrishnan.
As per the orders of Stalin, the Government issued an order sanctioning Rs 86 crore to provide Rs 5,000 assistance to 1.72 lakh fishermen in the State.
The ban period was enforced by the State government from Tiruvallur district in the North to Kanyakumari district in the South, under the provisions of Centre’s Deep Sea Fishing Regulation Act, 2001.
It would would remain in force till 14 June to facilitate breeding of fishes and conservation of fish stock in marine ecology in the East Coast region.
During the ban period, fishermen would mend their nets and take up and overhauling works of their boats.
Overhauling of engines, dry docking, carpentry works and painting of vessels would be carried out during the ban period for which the boat owners would spend around Rs two lakhs to Rs five lakhs every year.