Fish prices to go up

With banning on deep sea fishing
by mechanised trawlers in and around the Tamil Nadu coast for 45 days coming into force from April 15, fish prices may go up, fish market traders' association today said.
Sebastine, a leader fish market traders' association, said the ban would continue till May 30.
About 12,000 mechanised fishing boats would not put to sea during the ban period, and arrival of fish to the market would come down to 25 tonnes from the present 100-150 tonnes of fish per day. "This is the main reason for the fish prices to go up," he said.

However, fibre boats and country boat fishermen would be allowed to fish in the area close to the sea coast, he said.
Officials said mechanised boat fishermen have demanded that financial assistance, given during the ban period, be increased from Rs.2000 to Rs.4500.