Not many takers for Tamil Nadu’s tuna longliner scheme

Launched with an outlay of Rs 51.30 crore, the scheme was aimed at encouraging fishermen to build bigger, tougher and longer fishing vessels which can stay at sea upto 10 days. The fact that Sri Lanka still hasn’t released 78 boats belonging to the Indian fishermen was another reason for the government to conceive the tuna longliner scheme. 

Official sources said only seven have expressed interest in the scheme as of now. They added that the high cost of boat construction, more than double the cost of regular mechanised boat (Rs 35 lakh), is a dampener. The capital for the venture can be through own funds or bank loans. Though the government has 

announced a 50 per cent subsidy in construction cost, fishermen wonder if they would be able to the repay loan. 

Another issue plaguing the scheme is the fuel issue. Till date, the state government was providing subsidised diesel upto 1,500 litres per month. As the tuna longliners consume more fuel, fishermen have decided to wait until the government makes clear announcement in this regard. 

Though the government initially provided 22,000 outboard motors/inboard engines in a bid to modernise fishing boats, they still could not venture too far into the sea, which only the longliners can. The scheme would evoke a better response only when the government clears the doubts of fishermen.