Automated Translation:
March to lift ban on purse seine nets

Fishermen's Union will strike at Azad Maidan on Thursday

Wadala, 3 (Correspondent): Due to the misconception that even small fish are caught in the sea due to purse seine net fishing, the government has banned it. However, in reality, the picture is different. Taking the situation into consideration, a committee should be appointed and from February 5th ,the ban imposed on purse seine nets should be lifted, demanded Ganesh Nakhwa, Vice President of Purse Seine Fishermen Welfare Association and Kailas Chaulkar, President of Akhil Bharatiya Matsya Pravartak Sangh, in a press conference held on Wednesday (2nd). They have also warned that if the ban is not lifted, a march will be held on March 10 at Azad Maidan on behalf of the association and the union.

Vishwanath Mhatre, Chief of Fishermen's Sailors Association, Pradeep Nakhwa, former President of Karanja Society, Amol Roge, President of the Association, Anand Burode, Advisor of Sahkar Fishermen's Society, Sitaram Patil, President of Chaudagaon Sailors' Association, Nischal Koli, etc., were present at the press conference. Purse seine nets are used for fishing only within a given distance in the sea. Therefore, the declining species are not fished with purse seine nets. However, Ganesh Nakhwa said that it was banned as some people were misleading the government. Nakhwa has also appealed that the government officials should hold a meeting with the purse seine net fishermen.

The Central and State Governments under the NCDC scheme have given loans of lakhs of rupees to the fishermen, built sophisticated fishing boats and asked them to use the purse seine method and now the State Government is banning it and driving them to penury. He has also demanded that the government ought to pay attention to the trials and tribulations of more than 12,000 workers who are dependent on about 450 purse seine boats in Raigad, Thane and Mumbai districts.