Traditional fishermen lay siege to dredger on high seas

Mangalore, March 22: In a novel protest on high seas off the coast of Mukka, near Suratkal traditional fishermen laid siege to a dredger and a tug used to tow it on Thursday.

The protest was held under the banner of Coastal Traditional Fishermen's Union to oppose a move by Mangalore Special Economic Zone authorities to lay an effluent discharge pipeline near Mukka.

Around 100 angry fishermen sailed to sea in several traditional boats and surrounded the dredger.

The sea agitators instructed the crew on board the dredger and the tug to vacate the area and lay anchor on high seas and not to venture into the area till the matter was sorted out with the authorities concerned.

When they vacated the area, the fishermen shouted slogans and celebrated by bursting crackers in the mid-sea.

Speaking on the occasion, Union president B K Boloor said that as many as 5000 fishermen will be affected if the effluent discharge pipeline was laid.

He said that a few years ago there were no less than 50 traditional boats fishing in the Baikampady-Suratkal stretch. However, the traditional fishing in this has been affected these days due to the effluents discharged by the companies like MRPL, BAFF, MCF and KIOCL etc.

Mogaveera Mahasabha action committee co-ordinator Shobendra Sasihitlu said that Mangalore tehsildar Ravichandra Nayak had issued an order in November, 2011, banning the laying of pipeline to the sea, saying it will affect the fishery business thereby affecting the fishermen community. However, the MSEZ authorities have not stopped the work yet.

"In last November, they brought concrete pipes in a truck and unloaded it on the sea shore at Mukka. However, it was later shifted by the contractor following severe objections from the fishermen in the region. The work of laying effluent discharge pipeline to sea is in progress Padre and other places. Very soon they may start laying the pipeline to the sea, which will not only pollute the sea, but also will pose threat to the breeding of fish species in the estuary. Fishermen in the region will have no other option but to look for alternative trade, if they start disposing effluents to sea," he added.