Improve Conditions Of Fishermen, Educate Them In Respect Of Hygiene, Presentation & Organise The Fishing Sector: Madras High Court

Noting that it is a completely unorganised sector that most of the fishermen are not even registered, the Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy also observed that the primary task is to organise an unorganised sector, where most persons maybe illiterate and at the lowest rungs of the social order.

The Court also stressed that the fishermen should be educated in respect of hygiene and presentation so that in addition to bettering their lives, the beaches become less of an eyesore than they are now.

The issue of increasing the quantum of dole

The petitioner in the second petition sought an order directing both the Union and the State to increase the quantum of dole to the fishermen during the 61-day period that fishermen are not allowed to go out to the sea or indulge in any kind of fishing at all.

To this, the State submitted that it would look into the quantum of pay-out during the 61-day period each year that fishermen are not allowed to venture into the sea.

Apart from the State Government increasing the quantum, the Court observed that an additional amount may be allotted by the Centre, in view of the fact that fishermen are kept away from their only means of earning for a substantial period pursuant to the laws made by the Centre.

Court's other observations

The Court noted that though, traditionally, fishermen have the instinct to conserve and to let go of the younger fish or the pregnant, but the increasing competition in recent times and the use of certain kinds of nets have led to indiscriminate fishing without bearing in mind that certain species are protected or certain others cannot be caught.

Thus, the Court observed that the State and the Centre should undertake a census or an, even more, broader study to ascertain the number of persons engaged in fishing, so that, in the near future when over-fishing becomes much more of a problem than it is now, the number of persons maybe limited.

"It is also necessary to ensure a degree of awareness being spread, hygienic and other conditions being imposed, apart from verifying the gauges and the kind of nets which are used for fishing", added the Court.

Further, the Court observed that while housing in a limited form may have been provided to a few, insurance and credit facilities need to be made available, first upon educating the fishermen and next upon organising the sector in the State.

Lastly, the pleas were disposed of by requesting both the Union and the State,

"To look into the general plight of the fishermen, particularly during the 61-day period ban of fishing, to augment the allowance made available to every sea-fishing family during the period with a possible contribution from the Union in such regard."

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