Fishermen not to use high power boats, banned fishing nets

Fishermen of this island on Friday resolved to cooperate with their Sri Lankan counterparts and not use high power motor boats and banned fishing nets.

A meeting of the fishermen here also postponed their planned agitation, scheduled to be held here, demanding action against those who used banned fishing nets. They also resolved to launch a state wide stir if fishing boats seized by Sri Lankan navalmen were not released, said N J Bose and T Jesudass, the two main functionaries of the fishermen's association.

They said the association itself would nab those who use banned nets and hand them over to officials. The decision comes three days after the third round of bilateral talks between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen at Chennai, where Indian fishermen put forth a seven point plea, including nod to fish in the island nation territory for 83 days in a year which their Lankan counterparts said they would consider. The meeting had also fully agreed to halt use of banned nets in Lankan waters.