RAMANATHAPURAM: Fishermen from Rameswaram have started migrating to other areas in Karnataka and Kerala due to the continuing attacks by the Sri Lankan navy. They said they were unable to earn an income because of the attacks.
Since they could not set out to sea to fish and were apprehensive of their safety, one group of fishermen went to Mangalore and another to Kerala recently.
Fishermen here have been urging the government to restore the right to fish in the sea, without being attacked, around the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
But no action has been taken in this regard.
The fishermen say that they have been left with no option but to migrate to other States to earn their living. Owing to loss of their income, many fishermen took their children out of matriculation schools and admitted them in government schools.
Only a few boats have set out from Rameswaram during the past few days.
Teniston of Rameswaram said that some fishermen had sold their houses to maintain their families.
Government should come forward at least now to ensure the safety of fishermen, he added.
Kingston, secretary of the Annai Indira Gandhi Country Boats Fishermen Association, Pamban, said that due to poor catch and the Lankan navy attacks, fishermen have been forced to migrate to other coastal states.
Fisheries department sources said that it was natural that some fishermen had gone to other areas as they change their place of residence with the change in seasons.