Remove fishing restrictions in Kaluvankerny sea- MP

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 03 April 2007, 14:30 GMT]
"Kaluvankerny Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Thursday directive restricting fishing on Kaluvankerny sea area between 6:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m severely hampers fishermen from earning their livelihood. This restriction should be immediately lifted," Ms. K. Thankeswary, Batticaloa district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian said in an urgent appeal to Batticaloa SLA Civil Administrator, Colombo, Batticaloa officials the Ministry of Fisheries and Baticaloa Government Agent, Tuesday.

Kaluvankerny is a fishing village in Chenkalady Regional Secretary division in Batticaloa district consisting entirely of fishing families.

"Kaluvankerny fisherman customarily go fishing in deep seas in the evening and return in the morning with their catch. But the SLA directive banning night fishing deprives them of catching enough fish to earn a normal living. This limitation should be removed at once," requested the MP in her appeal.

1230 fishing families in Kaluvankerhy area depend on fishing as their sole source of income. They have 400 fibre glass fishing boats, 41 wooden boats and 8 shore nets.

Meanwhile, Savukkady, Navalady areas next to Kaluvankerny and the area from Palaiyadithona to Kalkuda lying opposite to Kalvankerny sea area free from any restriction on fishing.

The restriction placed on the Kaluvankerny fishermen has limited the fish supply to Chenkaldy, Batticaloa markets causing prices to rise.

Kaluvankerny is located 17 km northeast from Batticaloa town.