The Federation of Indian Fishery Industries (FIFI) has condemned the proposal to relocate the fishing harbour from here to Moolakuddu village near Bhimunipatnam at its recent meeting here.

At the annual general body meeting held here recently, a resolution was adopted opposing the revival of the proposal to shift the fishing harbour by the Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT).

It said the new site would become another failure like Bhavanapadu in Srikakulam district, as it was not technically viable.

The meeting was also attended by Visakhapatnam Mechanised Boat Operators’ Welfare Association president P.C. Appa Rao and Dolphin Boat Operators’ Welfare Association president Ch. Satyanarayana Murthy.

“Even the small mechanised boats cannot enter the proposed fishing harbour, for want of sufficient draft. The proposed site is situated on the open coast and exposed to very heavy breaking of waves close to the shore. The shore protection structure is to be artificially constructed, which is very expensive, technically unviable and economically not feasible,” the resolution stated. The harbour would need continuous dredging involving huge expenditure, FIFI president Y.G.K. Murti said.

Several boat owners said the existing fishing harbour was a natural harbour and one of the best in Asia with sufficient draft for fishing craft for easy and comfortable navigation irrespective of the tidal variations. The Dolphin’s Nose, a hillock, was protecting the fishing harbour from cyclones, they said.

> sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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