Jaffna fishermen not allowed to fish without radar reflectors

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 25 August 2009, 05:16 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in Jaffna has barred around 2,750 fishermen to fish during night time in their seas without installing radar reflectors on their boats and catamarans, according to S. Tharmalingam, the Deputy Director of Fisheries and Sea Resources in Jaffna. Meanwhile, the Non-government Organization, IMO, has come forward to purchase 2,750 radar reflectors for the fishermen, Tharmalingam said.

SLN had informed the Government Agent of Jaffna that the radar reflectors should be installed on the fishermen’s boats and catamarans as it is difficult to see them without the reflectors in the nights.

Meanwhile, SLN continues to reject appeals made by the fishermen to go fishing around 11:00 p.m in the nights.

The fishermen engaging in night fishing are required to go fishing before 6:00 p.m and return only after 6:00 a.m the following morning.

SLN has informed that that the above restriction will not be lifted under any circumstances, the deputy director said.

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