Paradip, Aug. 3: The state marine fisheries department has come forward to resolve the dispute between fishermen from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Recently, local trawl operators stopped some of the fishing vessels from Vishakhapatnam harbour from berthing at Paradip.

The Andhra Pradesh trawl operators argued that their vessels were forced to venture into Odisha coastal waters because of rough sea condition. But, the traditional marine fishermen and vessel operators from Odisha dismissed their plea.

The Orissa Marine fishing Regulation Act specifies 12 nautical miles off the sea coast as an exclusive preserved zone for local fishermen. But, fishing vessels, especially from Andhra Pradesh, make frequent intrusion into the zone.

With the recent intrusion, it has led to over-exploitation of the zone meant for Odisha fishermen. Their income makes a nosedive with consequent drop in daily catch, said general secretary of the Odisha Traditional Marine Fish Workers’ Association Narayan Haldar.

“To settle the dispute, representatives of Andhra Pradesh marine fishermen organisations were recently summoned to Paradip. After a dialogue with fishermen representatives of both the states, the dispute was resolved. The Andhra Pradesh representatives admitted stray cases of intrusion in Odisha sea waters. It was unanimously decided to allow berthing of the Andhra Pradesh vessels only in distress condition arising out of stormy weather,” said additional marine fisheries officer Ranjit Dash, who is stationed at Paradip.

Trawl from other states, if found operating without authorisation within 12 nautical miles off the Odisha coast, will face criminal action. A drive is under way to stop the illegal fishing by vessels of other states within the 12 nautical miles fishing zone.

“We have sought the co-operation of state marine police and coast guard to curb such practice to protect the larger interests of local fishermen,” said Dash.

Over 600 trawls operate from Paradip, Astarang, Balaramgadi, Dhamra and Kashaphala. In recent years, sea fishing has become seasonal because of inclement weather due to frequent formation of low pressure.

“Each year, we hardly fish for about 120 to 130 days in the sea. Hence, the encroaching trawlers have become a cause of concern. Due to depletion of fish population in Bengal and Andhra sea water, fishermen from these states break law to venture into Odisha water,” said president of the Odisha Trawl Operators’ Associaion Sumant Biswal.

On the other hand, president of the Vishakhapatnam-based Andhra Pradesh Mechanised Fishing Boat Operators’ Association B.C. Appa Rao said: “Excepting few, Andhra Pradesh trawls mostly operate in the fishing zones earmarked for them. However, we are not ruling out cases of intrusion by some vessels. We have cautioned them not to do in the future.”