Compulsory wait: Mechanised boats anchored at Mandapam fishing jetty on Wednesday after Fisheries department warned fishermen against venturing into the sea in view of high velocity winds. | Photo Credit: L. Balachandar more-in RAMANATHAPURAM Heeding the ‘weather warning’ issued by Fisheries department, mechanised boat fishermen in the district refrained from venturing into the sea for fishing on Wednesday. Fishermen in Rameswaram, Mandapam and Pamban who had ventured into the sea for fishing after the end of the 61-day ban period on June 15, 16 and 18, ignoring the warnings and without obtaining fishing permits, finally heeded the warning. The department warned that high velocity winds from south-west were likely along and off Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, citing Meteorological department weather forecast. Meteorological department had also forecast high waves rising up to 3.7 metres along the coast of south Tamil Nadu, it said and refused to issue fishing tokens. The warning would be valid for two days, the officials said. As the fishermen did not set out for fishing, about 1,500 trawlers were anchored in Rameswaram, Pamban and Mandapam fishing jetties. Meanwhile, the department issued show cause notices to boat owners who had earlier ventured into the sea ignoring warnings and without obtaining fishing permits as to why action should not be initiated against them. The department would initiate action against the fishermen after receiving explanation from them, Deputy Director of Fisheries E. Kathavarayan said. He said preliminary enquiries revealed that the fishermen had not violated the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act but only ignored the warnings of adverse weather conditions. Reacting to the show cause notices, fishermen leader P. Sesu Raja said the fishermen were well aware that the department had issued the warning for their own safety, but they could not desist from venturing into the sea after they were away from the sea for 61 days during the ban period. After fishermen from other coastal districts set out for fishing after the end of the ban period, they too were forced to follow suit for their livelihood, he said, adding the department should avoid taking punitive action.

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