Fishermen protest use of illegal fishnets | Daily News

Fishermen protest use of illegal fishnets

The fishermen at the district fisheries office. Picture by Prasad Poornamal.
The fishermen at the district fisheries office. Picture by Prasad Poornamal.

A group of fishermen surrounded the Chilaw District fisheries office and held a demonstration protesting against the use of illegal fishnets known as ‘Kotu del’ by some fishermen in the sea area from Chilaw to Wennappuwa yesterday.

A large number of fishermen from nearly 20 fishery villages from Chilaw to Katuneriya participated in the protest coordinating office of the Puttalam District Fisheries solidarity organisation Loyel Pieris said those fishermen using ‘Kotu del’ collected a large haul of fish a a time denying fishermen using other nets a sizeable catch.

Kudamaduwella Loly Rosary rural fisheries organisation’s Vianney Samson said there would be a serious clash among groups of fishermen in the area unless authorities intervened to prohibit the use of these fishing gear named ‘Kotu del’. Chilaw Assistant Fisheries Director Anura Jayasekara said he will inform the Director General of Fisheries about the issue and promised to convene a meeting of the two groups of fishermen involved to bring about an amicable settlement through discussion.


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