Keeping in view the small and marginal fishermen’s interest, Baleswar MP Rabindra Kumar Jena has demanded revocation of the Agriculture Ministry’s notification, in which the Ministry has agreed to issue letter of permit (lOP) to foreign vessel for fishing in Indian sea water.
As per the notification issued in November last, foreign vessels can carry out fishing from 12 nautical miles from the States border to 250km in the exclusive economic zone.
“The permission will not only hamper the interest fishermen but also pose threat for the coastal security. In Odisha, while about 2,500 trawlers and 40,000 gillnetters operate in sea water for fishing, livelihood of nearly 1.5 lakh people depends on the occupation,” said the MP in the Parliament recently.