A group of Indian fishermen have threatened to commit suicide unless the authorities take necessary action to stop other fishermen from using prohibited purse seine and hair nets. The banned equipment can catch at least three tonnes of fish and sea food in a single trip; efficiently depriving lawful fishermen of fish.

According to the affected fishermen, roughly 300 boats continue to use prohibited fishing gear in the waters off Ramanathapuram. Since the present regulation against the practise has proven ineffective, the fishermen now demand confiscation of boats and nets from unlawful fishermen. Officials from the fisheries department have expressed powerlessness, since the unlawful fishermen enjoy political patronage.

Located in India’s south-eastern coastal region, close to Sri Lanka, Ramanathapuram is a city and a district in the Tamil Nadu state.