Mechanised boat owners' associations, comprising 11 outfits, today warned of launching an indefinite stir from December 5 if the Centre did not take steps to secure the release of the 23 fishermen and 53 boats seized so far by Sri Lankan naval personnel.
They also wanted compensation for the boats that were totally damaged while anchored in the Sri Lankan coast, said Sandhya, Vercode fishermen's association president.
Various associations' functionaries, including N J Bose, S Emiret and P Sesuraja, who participated in the meeting, claimed they had the backing of all fishermen's associations in Tamil Nadu.
Speakers said Tamil Nadu government should also resume fourth round of talks with the Sri Lankan government and its fishermen and retrieve Katchativu islet, so that the Indian fishermen could fish in the traditional area also.
They warned that they would resort to an indefinite stir from December 5 and intensify it, stage a dharna in front of Parliament and boycott elections if no action was taken.
Keeping in view the dipping income sources of the
affected fishermen, the state government had earlier launched Rice for Olive Ridley Conservation (RORC) programme.
The beneficiary families are being provided 25 KG rice every month at Rs one a KG, said officials.
A total of 8,068 marine fishermen families from the seaside villages of Kendrapara, Ganjam, Puri are being covered under RORC social security scheme, said Additional Fisheries Officer, Paradip, Bharat Bhusan Sahoo.
Every year, the state government clamps 7-month ban on sea-fishing in a 20 KM radius sea territory stretching from Dhamara to Devi river mouth.
In accordance with the Odisha Marine Fisheries Regulatory Act, 1983, the prohibitory orders on sea fishing remain effective from November 1 to May 31.
The legal embargo on fishing remains in force to ensure the safety of breeding turtles who perish in large numbers either by getting entangled in mono-filament fishing nets or by getting hit by propellers of trawls.
