Mangaluru: The country boats are facing a serious problem at Bunder fishing harbour. The mechanised trawlers and boats are found to be anchored at the two phases of the harbour, leaving no space for the country boats to anchor themselvs after they return from sea to offload their catch.

The mechanised trawlers and boats are all set to commence fishing on August 1 after a ban was issued on fishing in the monsoon. The ban was imposed on both west as well as east coast of India. The ban on fishing was imposed on the west coast from June 1, 2016.

The mechanized trawlers and boats, anchored at the harbour are receiving the final touches and last minute check of their fishing nets. Loading of ice also goes on at a brisk pace, leaving no space for the country boats to anchor at the jetty.

Irked by the mechanised trawlers and boats anchored at the space marked for the country boats, the fishermen from the country boats and their owners forcibly make way for themselves every morning. On July 31, a few fishermen from the country boats came over to the jetty near Metro shed and threatened to cut the nylon ropes that were used to tie the mechanised trawlers and boats to the bollard to make way for the traditional boats to anchor themselves.

The country boats which had come after fishing were found to be struggling for space to anchor, offload their catch and find market as soon as possible. The traditional boats don’t carry ice to preserve their catch. One or two country boats managed to anchor themselves with great difficulty. One of the country boats’ fishermen said that the harbour in-charge should take steps to ensure that the space provided for the traditional boat is kept free and should not permit the mechanised trawlers and boats to overcrowd the place and anchor themselves.

When Ganapathy Bhat, Joint Director, Fisheries (in-charge harbour) was contacted he said, “Since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has removed the stay, the completion of the III Phase of Bunder fishing harbour will be taken up. NGT has removed the stay with the condition that the creek will have to be restored”.

Bhat further said that a proposal was sent just two months ago to the government after revising the cost from Rs 57 crores to Rs 84 crores. He also said that every year, the number of boats increase and there is no other good harbour for around 60 kilometers. We are looking forward to Hejmadi Kodi and Kulai fishing harbour, he said.

When queried whether these traditional boats should be given a permanent space to anchor themselves, he said that he would inspect the area at Bunder on August 1 along with assistant director and take a decision to do the needful.

A fortnight ago, the traditional fishermen staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in the city, urging the State government to recommend the Centre to take up Kulai Fishing Harbour project before July 18, 2016.

Dakshina Kannada Traditional Fishermen Association claimed that if the State did not give its clearance before July 18, the Centre would drop the Rs 230 crore worth project.

The proposed fisheries harbour at Kulai will have fish handling capacity of 27,100 tonnes per annum. The project involves the construction of quay and jetty, dredging and reclamation, breakwater, fish handling and auction halls and fish loading area among others. The project has been proposed on an 11-acre land.

In 2014, the State government had proposed fishing harbours at Kulai (Rs 151 crore) and Hejmadi-Kodi (Rs 121 crore) near the New Mangalore Port.