Chennai: Tamil Nadu Government today made a slew of announcements for the welfare of fishermen including subsidised Distress Alert Transmitters (DAT) and life buoys, fibre coracles and floating cages for fish breeding.
Fisheries Minister K A Jayapal told the State Assembly that registered motorised fishing vessels and mechanised country boats would be provided with Distress Alert Transmitters at 90 per cent subsidy to facilitate rescue of fishermen in distress.
"During 2015-16, in the first phase, 1,600 fishing vessels would be provided DATs at an estimated cost of Rs 2.60 crore at 90 per cent subsidy," he said.
Fishermen face dangerous obstacles on sea, he said, adding, during such circumstances those off-shore could be alerted through the DATs.
DATs send distress signal to the area maritime rescue coordination centre for facilitating rescue of stranded vessels and fishermen.
Similarly, at a cost of Rs 2.50 crore, 10,000 life buoys would be provided to fishermen using traditional fishing vessels to help them during distress situations.
Floating cages would be launched in ten locations in the state to facilitate fish breeding so as to help fishermen get (additional) alternate source of income, he said.
Also, at a cost of Rs 60 lakh and at a 50 per cent subsidy, fibre-reinforced plastic coracles would be given to inland fishermen and fish breeders. This would help them replace bamboo-based coracles which have less durability.
In association with Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, the Fisheries Department would put up LED display screens in ten coastal locations to apprise fishermen on important inputs including weather, he said.
