Prime Minister launched Deep Sea fishing project in Rameswaram.

TNPSC Current Affairs July 2017

Prime Minister has launched Deep Sea fishing project in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, to find a permanent solution to the annoying Fishermen issue. As per the new scheme over 2000  trawlers will switch over to construct tuna long liner trawlers under the ‘Blue Revolution’ scheme.

The project will replace the trawlers with 2000 deep-sea fishing boats with long lines and gill nets in 3 years. The production of deep-sea fishing boats takes 9 months but as per project, it planned to compress the period into 6 months.

 It also end the Indian fishermen trespass the Sri Lankan water while fishing in Palk straight and get arrested by Sri Lankan Navy.

As per the project, Centre would sponsor the beneficiary with 50 per cent and State government with 20 Per cent. Then Beneficiary has to contribute 10 per cent and beneficiaries would be helped to raise 20 Per cent institutional finance.

Why Deep Sea fishing project?

• The deep sea Fishing project aims to end the bottom trawling by Indian Fisherman.
• The project will train the fisherman in deep sea fishing and capacity building and the Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thoothukudi, has come forward to open a training centre for deep-sea fishing in Kanniyakumari district
• The deep sea voyage duration is around 15 to 28 days, it can yield 8-10 tonnes of fish and get profit around Rs 7- 8 lakhs. 

Bottom Trawling and its impact: 

• Bottom Trawling is the main issue between Indian and Srilankan Fisherman.
• Bottom Trawling is a trawling along the sea floor using heavily weighted nets, which is considered very bad in fishing circles as it wipes out everything in their path including coral reefs, sea grasses or rock gardens which fish hide from predators.
• Bottom trawling will end up many creatures mistakenly including endangered fish and even vulnerable corals which can live for several years.
• It also destroys large areas of seafloor habitat which give food and shelter to marine species and this will leave the marine ecosystem permanently damaged