Chennai, 17 June (H.S.) : After a 61-day annual fishing ban, mechanised boats from Kanniyakumari returned to shore on Monday, June 16, 2025, with a massive catch estimated to be worth ₹5 crore.

The ban, implemented from April 15 to June 14, is a crucial measure to allow fish to breed and replenish stocks in the deep sea off the Tamil Nadu coast, extending from Kanniyakumari to Tiruvallur district.

Following the lifting of the ban at midnight on June 14, nearly 307 boats from the Chinnamuttam fishing harbour set sail early on Monday and by 9 pm, they had returned with an impressive haul of at least four tonnes, including high-value species such as kingfish, pomfret, shrimps, and prawns.

This bountiful return brought immense relief and joy to the fishing community, which had spent the ban period on boat repairs and net mending. Traders from various districts and even other states flocked to the harbour to bid for the fresh catch, signaling a strong start to the new fishing season.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary