“Most of the accidents occur owing to lack
of modern communication equipment”
As per available statistics, only
20-30 per cent of fishermen use mechanised boats
FAO of the United Nations has designed
a global safety at sea programme
CHENNAI: There are over one
million fishermen living in the Bay of Bengal region, of which 50 per
cent are in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Safety takes the back seat
when they go for fishing in the high seas, and this causes the death of
25,000 fishermen every year.
Most of the accidents occur owing to the lack of modern communication
equipment and life jackets, or faulty boats, among other things. As per
the available statistics, only 20-30 per cent of fishermen use
mechanised boats; the rest use traditional boats.
To check the number of accidents at sea and the effects of such
accidents, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United
Nations has designed a global safety at sea programme. It will be
revealed at a two-day national workshop being organised here on
December 3 and 4 in association with the Union Ministry of Agriculture.
In South Asia, the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental
Organisation (BOBP-IGO), in coordination with the FAO Regional Project
Coordinator, will implement the project. A sum of $2.5 million has been
set aside for two years.
Talking to newsmen here on Thursday, BoBP Director Y.S. Yadava said
this was the first time a national workshop was being held in a
comprehensive manner to address the problems of various stakeholders.
The information and guidelines would be submitted to the State
Government for framing suitable rules.
“The preparatory work is on. We have selected Vishakapatnam and
Royapuram to carry out field activities. Around six members each from
Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu fishing associations are taking part in
the workshop, and they would train the fishermen,” he said.
FAO Regional Project Coordinator R. Ravikumar said though there were
mandatory safety laws for larger vessels, boats under 24 metres were
not taken seriously. The need of the hour was to address this sector.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/30/stories/2007113062630800.htm
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© 2007, The Hindu.
