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Fishermen want ban on sea cucumber harvest to go

By IANS

Rameswaram : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has promised to consider the plea of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen who want the ban on harvesting sea cucumbers withdrawn.

The National Fishworkers’ Forum began a protest in New Delhi on Aug 29 to press for their demand.

The leaders of the fishing community, accompanied by Left leaders and representatives of the MDMK, Bharatiya Janashakti Party and the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Thursday met the prime minister who promised to resolve their problems soon.

D. Raja of the Communist Party of India (CPI) raised the issues of fishermen in the parliament and demanded that the ban on the fishing and trade of sea cucumbers and other such products be lifted immediately.

Harvesting of shark and 63 marine species was banned by the ministry of environment and forests in July 2001 under provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972. Sea Cucumber, shark and several other species were also included.

A committee was appointed to look into the issue of harvesting of sea cucumbers. However, no decision was taken on lifting the ban on sea cucumbers, known as holothuria among scientists.

There are about 650 varieties of sea cucumbers and in the seas around India, and nearly 200 are known to be available. Only a dozen species are of commercial value.