An unregistered mechanised boat from Colachel in Kanniyakumari district has been impounded by the Fisheries Department officials with 16 fishermen as the wooden boat with high power engine was found poaching in the east coast when the 61-day annual fishing ban is in force.

As the 61-day annual fishing ban between April 15 and June 15 along the east coast is in force to facilitate fish breeding, no mechanised boat can carry-out fishing operations along the east coast during this period while there is no such ban for the country boats. Consequently, more than 400 mechanised boats operating from Vembar, Tharuvaikulam and Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour in the district have been berthed since April 15.

Similar ban will be invoked along the west coast – i.e. the coast beyond Kanniyakumari – from June 1 to July 31 for the mechanised boats. To monitor the effective implementation of the ban, joint patrolling by the Fisheries Department officials, coastal security group, marine police and the fishermen is done in the high seas.

Defying this ban, a mechanised boat from Colachel in Kanniyakumari district with 16 fishermen entered the east coast and allegedly indulged in poaching, which was spotted by the country boat fishermen 17 nautical miles off Manappad coast on Monday.

Following information from the country boat fishermen, Joint Director of Fisheries Ilamvazhuthi and Assistant Director G.S. Bushra sent three patrol boats to the spot with satellite phones. The mechanised boat was detained by the patrol teams along with 16 fishermen and 709 kg fishes and brought to the Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour on Tuesday. The seized catches was auctioned after the boat reached Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour and the due investigations were completed.

During interrogation, the Fisheries Department officials found that the unregistered mechanised wooden boat with high power engine from Colachel had entered the east coast on May 10 night and got detained on the next day after a couple of harvest in the banned areas.

“We’ve registered a case against this unregistered boat and the crew for poaching in the banned area. While the fishermen will be released after due legal procedures, the boat will continue to be under the custody of the Fisheries Department. It will be released only if the boat owner makes an appeal with the authorities concerned and can get all mandatory clearances,” said Ms. Bushra.