40kg sea cucumbers seized in Ramanathapuram

Rameswaram: Nearly 40 kg of ‘Sea Cucumbers’, an endangered fish species which fishermen are prohibited from exporting, was seized near Ucchupulli near Ramanathapuram on Friday. Police also arrested one person in connection with this incident.

The ‘Sea Cucumbers’ were found to be kept at a drying yard in the backyard of a house in the coastal hamlet of Surankattuvalasai near Ucchupulli when they were seized by a joint team of the Q-branch police and coastal security group police, sources said.  On a tip-off the joint police party rushed to the spot and preliminary inquiries showed that the ‘Sea Cucumbers’ were meant to be allegedly ferried clandestinely to Northern Sri Lanka, sources said.  The police also arrested one Gopu (40), alias Murugesan in connection with the seizure. Further investigations are on.

However, there are two views on whether the ban on fishing and export of ‘Sea Cucumbers’ should continue or not, as one section of fishermen say it is irrational to continue with the ban on a species of fish which is available fairly in good quantities in the Gulf Of Mannar area and which could provide a decent source of income for fishermen of backward Ramanathapuram district. Central and State government should take a proper policy decision on the issue, they urged.