Ramanathapuram: Concerned over the steep
fall in the price of fish soon after fishing resumed after the 45-day ban imposed to conserve fish stock during the breeding season, fishermen in the district have requested the government to help them get better price for their catch.
District Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Coastal Mechanised
Boats Fishermen Association, Jesuraja, claimed that private
fish trading companies were "causing havoc by arbitrarily
fixing the prices". Hence, it was natural for the fishermen to expect help from the government, he said.
The ban on fishing ended on May 29 and normal fishing
resumed on May 30. Following the resumption of fishing
activity, the average price of each catch has fallen from
around Rs 400 to around Rs 200, local fishermen said.
Emarit, President of a local mechanised boat fishermen
association, alleged that fish traders were forming a cartel
and fixing the prize of the catches.
"We spend Rs 20,000 on diesel per day. We pay Rs 10,000
on coolie for the workers. If we go a bit far away we spend Rs
22,000 on diesel. How can we manage with Rs 210-300 per kg.
The traders are forming a cartel. We are not efficient enough
to break the cartel. Only the government should intervene," he
said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, June 01, 2011, 14:44