Oil spill: Fishermen demand compensation

BERHAMPUR (Orissa): In the wake of the fuel leak from a ship at Gopalpur port, traditional marine fishermen today demanded compensation apprehending adverse impact of the incident on their livelihood source.
The oil spill took place at a time when fish were near the coast for breeding. If they perish due to the effect, fishery resources off Ganjam coast would diminish, general secretary of Orissa Traditional Fish Workers Union (OTFWU) K Alleya said, demanding "adequate compensation".
Due to breeding period of the fish, the Centre has banned fishing through mechanized boats in the entire coastline from April 15 to June 30.
Several fishermen returned empty handed from the sea after the incident on Monday, Alleya claimed.
Fuel oil from an Indian ship carrying coal from Indonesia leaked when it collided with a berth.
Fishermen depending on the sea apprehended that catch would be dwindled drastically due to the possible depletion of the fishery resources in the coastal belt in the district. They would also face marketing problem as customers would fear contamination due to fuel leak, he said.
There are 37,000 fishermen families in Ganjam. Meanwhile, district collector VK Pandian said "we have asked the port authorities to give work to fishermen on priority basis."