Gujarat to issue licences to fishermen

The state fisheries department has plans to introduce a licence system for the fishing boats to minimise the border crossing problem.

"The licence fee would be between Rs 500 to Rs 1,200 each year depending on the boats' capacity. The licence system would provide identity to all Indian fishermen. It is considered that this year fish production has been decreased due to fishermen from other countries coming to the Indian coast," said A U Buch, deputy director, fisheries department.

With new license system the state fisheries department also aims to build an infrastructure facilities like jetties and equip boats with better navigation facilities from the revenues earned from the license fee.

The boats lack navigational tools to know, when they crossed the poorly marked border.

It also provides identification for Indian fishermen.

"The problem remains complicated as there is no clear border line demarcated in the Arabian Sea and fishermen do not have the capability to understand the two countries in no man's land, " said Buch.

Over 800 fishermen from Gujarat are still missing since the last year.

According to state fisheries minister Bhupendra Sinh Chudasama, fishermen in Karachi jail are expected to be released very soon. However, the problem of fishermen tresspassing into other territories has remained unresolved.

Chudasama said, " I hope the problem will be solved if the two countries show interest. However, the ministry of foreign affairs of both the countries are now concerned to solve the problem soon. We have also requested the Pakistan government to return the remaining Indian trawlers."

After a year's long process the Indian government finally escorted 528 fishermen from Pakistan in the month of March this year. Among those 34 were aged between 15 to 18 years.

Among the released fisherman 80 per cent are from Junagadh district of Gujarat and 44 from Maharastra, Andhra and Karnataka.

Earlier, in January a group of 266 Indian fishermen, who spent over a year in a Pakistani jail after straying into its territorial waters, arrived in India.

With the release of 528 fishermen from Pakistan, the state fisheries minister said, "Both countries need to equip vessels with modern technology that could give fishermen information on their whereabouts."