Yearly 61-day ban on fishing starts April 15

VISAKHAPATNAM: The annual 61-day

ban

on deep sea fishing will come into effect on April 15. Nearly 30,000

fishermen

across nine coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh will not venture into the sea during this

period

.

As per an order of the Union ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying, there will be a ban on fishing in the Indian Exclusive Economic (IEE) zone beyond territorial waters along the

east coast

from April 15 to June 14.

The order applies to fisherfolk of all mechanised boats. “However, traditional non-motorised boats are exempted from the ban,” the order states. Fishermen will depend on the money they will get under the YSR Matsyakara Bharosa scheme for their livelihood during this period.

“Although the order exempts non-motorised fisherfolk from the ban, we will not bother. We will depend on the YSR Matsyakara Bharosa benefit of Rs 10,000 which was launched

last year

,” said Arjili Dasu, executive secretary of Visakhapatnam Fishermen Youth Welfare Association.

According to Dasu, some fishermen were not completely aware of the scheme last year. “But this time, almost all fishermen know about the scheme. Hence, there would be no need to go fishing during this resurgence of Covid-19,” he said.

Speaking to TOI, Visakhapatnam fisheries department joint director in-charge P Lakshmana Rao said that last year more than 300 fishermen who used non-motorised boats also received assistance of Rs 10,000 under the Matsyakara Bharosa scheme.

There are certain indications that the number of beneficiaries under the scheme may increase this year, said an official from the state secretariat, who informed that 1.1 lakh people received the assistance last year.

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