Udupi: Fishermen have decided to shut down fisheries operations in all three coastal districts and stage a ‘rasta roko’ on National Highway 66 at Karavali junction here on January 6 in the backdrop of the missing fishing boat issue.
The stir has been organised by Malpe Fishermen’s Association along with other Fishing Associations.
Suvarna Tribhuja, a local fishing boat with seven fishermen on board went missing off the Goa coast on December 15 and since then there has been no traces of the boat.
Satish Kunder, President of Malpe Fishermen’s Association blamed the state government for its passiveness and said that neither Udupi district in-charge minister Dr Jayamala nor Fisheries Minister of Karnataka government Venkatarao Nadagouda had bothered to visit the fishermen in Malpe with regard to the missing boat issue.
After the Fishermen’s meeting at Malpe, Satish Kunder said that about 1,000 deep sea trawlers and 130 purse seine boats had stopped their fishing operations and were anchored at the Malpe Fisheries Harbour for the last nine days after the Suvarna Tribhuja went missing creating an atmosphere of fear.
Yashpal Suvarna, President of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi District Cooperative Fish Marketing Federation and senior BJP leader said that fishermen will gather in large numbers at Malpe Harbour at 8.30 am on Sunday, January 6 and then the procession will be taken out from Malpe Harbour to Karavali Junction NH 66 at Adi Udupi. The agitation will continue till Dr Jayamala came and pacified the fishermen, he said.
