After the annual two months ban period came to an end, fishermen from Rameswaram and Mandapam ventured into the sea on Sunday evening.

The 61-day ban period was set to allow reproduction of fish in the sea by the Union government, during which period, the fishermen utilised it to repair and renovate their trawlers and among others.

As the holiday came to close, the fishermen, numbering over 4000 set off on the Palk Straits in about 800 trawlers. They are scheduled to return to the shores on Monday (June 15), fisheries department officials said and added that they had strictly announced the fishermen not to indulge in poaching.

Only those fishermen, who produced their ID cards and Aadhar cards, were issued tokens and the officials were engaged in counselling with the fishermen for a brief period.

Hoping to return with good yield, the fishermen also said that at least this season, the Union government and the newly elected TVK party in Tamil Nadu should help in getting back the jailed fishermen in Sri Lankan prisons under charges of poaching.

Also, they appealed for a permanent solution to the issue since it concerned their livelihood. Under such circumstances, the fisheries department officials also sensitised the fishermen to be guarded while fishing. According to the officials, till Saturday, the weather was not very conducive, but it turned out to be normal on Sunday, they added.