Rameswaram, April 15 : The 61-day annual deep-sea fishing ban by mechanized boats to facilitate fish breeding along the East Coast of Tamil Nadu commenced on Thursday midnight. Fisheries sources said on Friday that the ban enforced by the state government from Tiruvallur district in the North to Kanyakumari district in the South, under the provisions of the Deep Sea Fishing Regulation Act, 2001 would remain in effect from April 15 to June 14 to facilitate the breeding of fishes and conservation of fish stock in marine ecology in the region. Mechanized boats fishermen have been instructed not to venture into the sea to avoid disturbance caused by trawlers to marine life during the breeding season. However, conventional fishing with traditional “catamaran” and country boats has been exempted from the ban order. Stern action would be initiated against mechanized boat fishermen, including cancellation of licenses of boats and their diesel subsidy, if found violating the ban order under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Regulation Act 1983. Enforcement agencies such as the Indian Coast Guard, Tamil Nadu Marine Police, and Fisheries department would be involved in joint patrolling to curb illegal fishing during the ban period, the sources added. The ban was in line with International standards and practices. Countries like the USA, Spain, and Australia have imposed similar bans every year and in India, it was Kerala State that first imposed it in 1988. In Rameswaram, one of the Major Marine Food Centres in South India, more than 800 registered mechanized fishing boats were docked at the fishing jetty due to the ban. The Tamil Nadu government has increased the monthly assistance to Rs 6,000 from Rs 5,000 to each fisherman during the ban period. The state government had also announced that Rs 250 per day would be given to the families of fishermen, who were detained by Sri Lanka until they were released. GSM CS1025