Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (VM)
Udupi, Feb 16: Seven deep sea fishing boats and fishermen from Malpe have been held by coast guards at Maharashtra Ratnagiri coast.
They were arrested for carrying out fishing activity within 12 nautical miles from the shore.
However, Malpe fishermen claimed that they were not fishing in the restricted area and said that the allegations against them were false. "The police have also sold our catch worth several lacs," they alleged.
Over the past several years, as the catch has decreasing in Karnataka, deep sea fishermen have been carrying out fishing off Goa and Maharashtra coasts.
Fishermen say that with several such incidents occuring in recent times, it has become difficult for them to go fishing in other states.