KARWAR: The Fisheries Department has decided to issue ID cards to fishermen who come from other states to work here.
Though fishermen in the state were already given biometric ID cards, those who come here from other states do not have biometric or other types of ID cards. During fishing, it was a challenge for the coastal police and Indian Coast Guard to identify whether they are fishermen or not. Also, the Centre had made it mandatory for all fishermen to carry ID cards to prevent illegal entry of people through the sea route.
More than 1,000 fishermen from Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and other states work in Uttara Kannada district.
These people do not have ID cards to prove themselves as fishermen when Coast Guard officials confront them.
The Deputy Director of Fisheries is the authority to give temporary ID cards to fishermen from other states. For the process, the boat owner should give complete details to coastal police about the labourers. With the help of coastal police documents, the Fisheries Department will give ID cards to them.
In the last couple of weeks, more than 21 boats along with hundreds of fishermen were caught by Coast Guard officials for not carrying identity cards of fishermen. Thousands of rupees as fine were imposed on boat owners for not carrying documents while fishing.