Fishermen protest, demand fair price for fish

Tuticorin : More than 900 boats in Rameswaram and Tuticorin today remained moored to the shore as fishermen did not put to sea protesting against private fish firms allegedly fixing low price for fish. Fishermen boycotted work to protest against private fish companies and traders fixing very low price for the fish, Bose, a functionary of the fishermen’s association, said. As many 225 fishing boats did not venture into the sea in Tuticorin with 4000 fishermen boycotting work while in Rameswaram more than 700 fishing boats and 5000 fishermen did not put to sea, he said. Fishermen in Rameswaram said they would indefinitely boycott fishing till government intervened and fixed a fair price for prawn lobsters and crabs.  “We will continue our stir till we get proper price for the fish,” said P.Nambusekaran, a functionary of the mechanised boat fishermen’s association. He also demanded release of fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy and their seized boats.