Fishermen from Maharashtra and Gujarat clash at high seas

RAJKOT/AHMEDABAD: Gujarat's fishermen are not only facing threats from Pakistan security agencies but also from neighbouring Maharashtra.
Around 20,000 fishermen in Jafrabad and surrounding coastal villages of Amreli have stopped venturing out to the sea since February 2 to protest against the alleged intimidatory tactics by fishermen from Maharashtra who have invaded their territory.
In the past four months, four incidents of assaults on Jafrabad fishermen have taken place, including one in which eight of them were rescued after their boat sank following a scuffle with Maharashtra fishermen.
Bhaghu Solanki, presi dent, Kharva Machhimar Boat Association, told TOI that as many as 400 trawlers from Maharashtra have forcibly occupied the area where they fish.
“Their trawlers are much bigger and they use huge Persian nets in the area where we fish. Moreover, those from Maharashtra are operating illegally which is evident from the absence of display of licence number, the yellow colour code and necessary papers,“ Solanki said.
“There have been instances where their trawlers have rammed into our fishing boats and damaged them,“ he said.
“We have written to the central government to take action against illegal and deep sea fishing,“ Solanki added.
“We have also written to the Maharashtra government. We have asked them to take necessary action against them,“ fisheries commissioner M A Narmawala told TOI. On November 22, 2015, eight fishermen were rescued after their boat `Venu Prashad' was damaged by Maharashtra trawler and ultimately sank. Interestingly , fishermen from Gujarat and Maharashtra had met in Daman to sort out the issues.
Interestingly , fishermen from Gujarat and Maharashtra had met in Daman to sort out the issues. “The two main issues were refraining from line fishing and use of huge Persian nets. Maharashtra fishermen weren't willing to accept either and talks failed.“ In fact, police had to be called in after the talks turned violent. Gujarat fishermen adopted a resolution to refrain from `line fishing'.
Gopal Fofandi, president, Akhil Gujarat Macchimar Mahamandal, said, “The problem has become very serious now. The number of species of fishes is also declining fast due to invasion by Maharashtra fishermen.“