Chennai, Apr 14 (Reporter) Already on the higher side due to poor catches, the prices of fish and other sea foods were expected to further soar as the 61-day annual ban on deep sea fishing by mechanised trawlers along the East Coast of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, would commence from midnight tonight. People of this teeming megapolis are already feeling the pinch of the as the prices rates of seafoods have skyrocketted due to low catches over the last few days. Yesterday, being Sunday the last weekend before the ban, fish prices at the famous Kasimedu fishing harbour jumped up with the most sought after Seer fish (vanjaram) sold at around Rs 1000 per kg kilo, white pomfret (vellai vavval) at Rs 1,100 a kg. The prices of other types of fishes too were on the higher side. Now that the ban will come into force, they will have to shell more out of their pockets, especially those loving and yearning for fish as part of their daily staple diet that contained vitamin and protein ingredients. The ban would be in force till June 15 all along the East Coast that covers Puducherry, besides neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh. Around 6,000 mechanised boats, across 13 coastal districts in Tamil Nadu will not venture into the sea for fishing during this ban period. Any violation will attract a penalty under Section 5 of the Tamil Nadu Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1983. The ban is enforced by the TN government from Tiruvallur district in the North to Kanyakumari district in the South, under the provisions of Centre's Deep Sea Fishing Regulation Act, 2001 would remain in effect till June 15 to facilitate breeding of fishes and conservation of fish stock in marine ecology in the region. However, catamarans, non-motorised, country boats and Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) boats would go for fishing since they could go only up to three or four nautical miles,” official sources said, adding, a financial assistance of Rs 8,000 would be paid to about 1.20 lakh marine fishermen families during the ban period. While urging the State government for early release of ban period assistance, various fishermen also appealed to it to hike the assistance to Rs 15,000 for mechanised boat owners to manage the living costs. As mandated by the Tamil Nadu Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1983, the ban was enforced for “conservation of species propagation” during the breeding season. The officials have instructed mechanised boats fishermen not to venture into the sea to avoid disturbance caused by trawlers to marine life during the breeding season. The fishermen would utilise the ban period to mend their nets and take up and overhauling works of their boats. Overhauling of engines, dry docking, carpentry works and painting of vessels would be carried out during the ban period for which the boat owners would spend around Rs two lakhs to Rs five lakhs every year. With a view to enforcing the ban strictly, enforcement agencies would be involved in joint patrolling. Meanwhile, the prices of fish were expected to shoot up in view of the ban as the arrivals would come down significantly. The increase in prices is likely to be in the range of 50 to 75 per cent. Meanwhile, various fishermen’s organisations had long been demanding that the ban period should be shifted from April-May to October-November -December, during the northeast monsoon and the Central government is yet to take a call on the issue...////...