The National Fish Workers Forum and the Vangakadal Meen Thozhilalar Sangam has called for a subsidy package for taking up deep-sea fishing .

Staging a demonstration outside the head post office in Nagapattinam on Tuesday, members placed a three-fold charter of demands that would help settle disputes between the fisherfolk of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

According to them, a new joint-fishing statutory agreement should be entered by the fisherfolk of the two countries to create an amicable atmosphere for sharing the marine wealth. Fisherfolks have also demanded a subsidy package for deep-sea fishing. Calling for a ‘package loan’ with 50 per cent subsidy for vessels taking up deep-sea fishing, NFF members argued that such subsidy arrangement would enable fisherfolk to take to deep-sea fishing in international waters. A demand has also been made for supplying diesel at production cost .

This would enhance economic viability for alternate fishing techniques. Over 400 demonstrators from Nagapattinam and Karaikal participated. (Source: The Hindu)