Fishermen suffer a lot due to frequent cyclones in Srikakulam

Srikakulam: Marine fishermen are the worst affected community due to repeated cyclones and low pressures formed in the Bay of Bengal. In Srikakulam district, total 104 seacoast villages located in 11 mandals spread from Itchapuram to Ranastalam.

In all these villages about 16,000 families are depending on fish hunt as their prime occupation. Due to repeated cyclones fishermen are unable to venture into sea for fish hunt and as a result they are losing their earning and livelihood.

Every year ban period for fish hunt will be in force for 45 days from last week of April to middle of June. In addition to it, cyclones and low pressures are repeatedly formed in the Bay of Bengal from August to December every year. During the cyclone days fishermen are informed by the government not to venture into sea for at least three to seven days based on the cyclone warnings.

For ban period of fish hunt for 45 days, government is paying Rs 4,000 as compensation to each marine fishermen family. But this year the payment is yet to be made to fishermen families.

"We are facing very critical situation during cyclones and low pressures and losing our livelihood" worried fishermen of Bandaruvanipeta, Matsyalesam, Budagatlapalem villages in Gara, Srikakulam rural and Etcherla mandals, M Sriramulu, Ch Ananthayya, M Appala Raju and others said to The Hans India.

"Fishermen are being neglected by all governments. We are not paid fish hunt ban period compensation every year. We demand payment of compensation for loss earning during cyclones and low pressures" fishermen union leaders, Ch Suryanarayana, M GuruMurthy, M Sriramulu told The Hans India.