Pass system abolished – fishermen relieved
The
pass system for fishermen that was in practice for over two decades in the
North, East and North Western provinces, restricting fishing activities was
abolished last week. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr.
Rajitha Senaratne told the Sunday Observer that this was a great relief and
victory for the fishermen who had staged protests and agitations demanding the
abolition of the Navy’s pass system. The system was introduced two decades ago
to restrict and monitor the LTTE’s activities across the Palk Straits, he said.
pass system for fishermen that was in practice for over two decades in the
North, East and North Western provinces, restricting fishing activities was
abolished last week. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr.
Rajitha Senaratne told the Sunday Observer that this was a great relief and
victory for the fishermen who had staged protests and agitations demanding the
abolition of the Navy’s pass system. The system was introduced two decades ago
to restrict and monitor the LTTE’s activities across the Palk Straits, he said.
Large-scale
poaching by Indian fishermen, a hot topic of discussions between the two
countries which had drawn repeated protests and agitations from the Northern
fishermen, is also now under control with the Navy continuously patrolling the
Northern and Eastern seas up to 10 nautical miles, the Minister said. Poaching
has now dropped considerably, he said. Ten Indian fishing vessels poaching in
the Northern seas have been seized by the Government and the crew is now in
detention , he said. Heeding repeated
appeals from fishermen’s unions and representatives Minister Senaratne took up
the issue of the Navy pass system with Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayanath
Colombage and dispensed the system.
poaching by Indian fishermen, a hot topic of discussions between the two
countries which had drawn repeated protests and agitations from the Northern
fishermen, is also now under control with the Navy continuously patrolling the
Northern and Eastern seas up to 10 nautical miles, the Minister said. Poaching
has now dropped considerably, he said. Ten Indian fishing vessels poaching in
the Northern seas have been seized by the Government and the crew is now in
detention , he said. Heeding repeated
appeals from fishermen’s unions and representatives Minister Senaratne took up
the issue of the Navy pass system with Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayanath
Colombage and dispensed the system.
The
District Fisheries Offices in the three provinces are now issuing identity
cards to fishermen which will free them from all restrictions, including
fishing hours and the nautical distance. Assistant Director of Fisheries,
Mannar (C.U), B.S. Miranda told the Sunday Observer that they had already begun
issuing fishermen’s identity cards and had also conducted a one-day
house-by-house mobile service to assist the fishermen.
District Fisheries Offices in the three provinces are now issuing identity
cards to fishermen which will free them from all restrictions, including
fishing hours and the nautical distance. Assistant Director of Fisheries,
Mannar (C.U), B.S. Miranda told the Sunday Observer that they had already begun
issuing fishermen’s identity cards and had also conducted a one-day
house-by-house mobile service to assist the fishermen.
© 2013 The Associated Newspapers of
Ceylon Ltd.
Ceylon Ltd.
