Tuticorin Fishermen meet Collector

Fishermen from Threspuram met the Collector R. Palaniyandi and the Superintendent of Police John Nicholson on Friday and asked them to take steps to reduce the `exorbitant' commission levied by auctioneers on the fish catch from them.

Around 500 fishermen owning country boats were on strike since Thursday, to protest the recent decision by the auctioneers to increase the commission on the catch from 6.25 per cent to 10 per cent. The fishermen wanted the auctioneers to stop the practice of taking away large quantity of fish from the catch as `gift' and subsequently selling it for high prices, rather than using it at their respective households.

Fishermen said they would keep off from the sea till the Collector finds an amicable solution to their problems.

Source: The Hindu