Sagar Putra Yatra brings awareness among coastal Tamil Nadu fishermen

 The broucher of FANS Sagar Putra Yatra sporting the picture of Goddess Mari Amma of Fishermen

The Times of India reported that thousands of fishermen of Kasimedu protested against the large fishing boats fitted with powerful Chinese engines that threatened the marine ecology, bio-diversity and fishing activities in the coastal region.

The high-powered boat engines from China infiltrating the market, have given some fishermen an advantage over others who used more traditional vessels besides damaging the marine biodiversity and ecology. These big boats were given licence to fishing in deep sea waters but they seldom do so and engage in fishing in shallow waters violating the norms.

The FANS Sagar Putra Yatra that began on October 13 from Palaverkadu near Chennai on the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border, has so far passed through various coastal villages dominated by the fishermen community and created awareness amongst them about their rights and duties.

In a telephonic conversation with www.newsbharati.com on Tuesday as the Yatra entered the city of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, Rai said that smuggling of drugs, terrorism-related activities and conversion to alien religions were identified to be major threats to the peace and tranquillity of our coastal border regions.

The illegal entry of foreign fishing trawlers that indulge in illegal fishing in the Indian Ocean area has posed another threat to the existence of Indian fishermen, he said adding that the security of the coasts was very weak due to insufficient boats and other apparatus.

In addition to this the big boats fitted with most powerful Chinese engines have played havoc with the small and marginal fishermen who use the traditional boats for shallow water fishing. These big boats were given the licence to fish in deep sea waters but they hardly go there, he said.

This angered the small fishermen at Kasimedu and they revolted in protest of these big boats on Monday turning their protest into a violent agitation.

The Yatra offered worship to Goddess of the fisherman – Mari Amma. The fishermen, irrespective of their religious beliefs, offer puja to this goddess before venturing into the sea. The yatra will conclude at Kochi on October 28 in presence of FANS Patron and senior RSS Pracharak Indresh Kumar and other dignitaries.