CHENNAI: At least 10 fishing nets, each worth around Rs 1 lakh, were damaged after scores of plastic waste got entangled in them on Thursday morning.The nets belonged to fishermen from Nochikuppam, who put out to sea for fishing early in the morning. “Several large plastic bottles, sheets and wrappers were found tangled with the nets. We haven’t measured the weight of the waste yet, but all our nets have been damaged. Some of them have to be stitched, and some others replaced,” said Ethiraj, a fisher-leader from Nochikuppam.Joint Director of Fisheries Department A Elango said this was a common case reported during monsoon, but added that the primary responsibility of controlling plastic waste beyond 12 nautical miles from the shore rested with the local bodies.Fishermen from Triplicane, Ennore and Santhome said that much of the waste entered the sea through storm-water drain routes and rivers, and there was no resolution in sight.“During rain, when the flow of water is high, plastic discards dumped along rivers and stuck in drains enter the sea. We have flagged the issue to the local bodies as well as to the fisheries department multiple times, but the problem recurs every monsoon,” said R L Srinivasan, a fishermen-leader from Ennore, adding that cases of plastic waste entanglement were reported in Ennore and Tiruvottiyur last week as well.An official from fisheries department said the Nochikuppam fishermen could approach the south zone office if required any assistance or compensation in this regard, and the damage will be assessed.
