Mangaluru: Fishermen in Mangalore have recently lodged complaints about harassment from fishers in neighboring states.

The fishers causing trouble are mainly from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, who venture into the high seas and prevent local fishermen from fishing. This issue has persisted for the past couple of months, resulting in the damage of at least 50 boats. Additionally, these fishers have destroyed other belongings of our fishermen, such as nets, ropes, and vessels.

The root cause of the problem lies in the fact that fishermen from Mangalore traditionally head to the waters of these two states from December to February when the local catch is less. Conversely, fishermen from Kerala and Tamil Nadu come towards Mangalore from August to September when the catch is more abundant in the region.

Fishermen report that those from Kerala and Tamil Nadu arrive on larger boats, throwing stones at them and making threats. The situation has escalated to the point of causing physical harm.

In response to these challenges, fishermen from Mangalore are urging the state government to address this issue promptly.

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