Purse seine boat owners, workers continue stir in Malpe

The owners and labourers of purse seine boats continued the strike for third consecutive day as they failed to receive any positive assurance from Malpe Fishermen Association with regard to the space for unloading, auctioning and selling of fish catch.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Purse Seine Boat Association Secretary Krishna Suvarna said “Malpe Fishermen Association has failed to show any response to our strike.

Ours is the largest association that supports Fishermen Association in times of distress. We agree that President and Secretary are all in Ratnagiri (Maharashtra) to sort out an issue.

However, they could have contacted and assured us to solve the problem after their return. We are highly disappointed with the Association.

They are not taking into account the space problem faced by fishermen and they have ignored our strike that is going on since three days,” he added.

Suvarna said that ‘purse seine boat fishermen will go ahead with indefinite strike and also tomorrow is the last day that our association will allow the unloading of fish catch at the harbor.

We have informed the department officials, fishermen and also traders that we will not allow unloading of fish catch at the dock from Saturday,’ he said.