Registration of 423 boats in Pak custody to be cancelled

VADODARA/AHMEDABAD: Fisheries department of state government has decided to cancel the registration of all the 423 Indian boats in Pakistani custody since 2003 citing security reasons, an official source said on Monday.
The boats were seized by the neighbouring country after they strayed in Pakistani waters while fishing. "All the agencies concerned and boat owners staying across the state have been informed about cancellation of registration of such boats," deputy commissioner of state fisheries department, N R Patel, said.
The step has been taken by the state government on the direction of Central government, Patel added. The letter by fisheries department to boat owners quoted that Union ministry of agriculture through a letter dated October 26, 2009, quoting notification of shipping ministry, said that the action was taken under Section 435 of Merchant Shipping Act and Rule 3, said Manish Lodhari, secretary of Nation Fish Workers Forum, said.
The terror attack on Mumbai on November 26 last year, in which the terrorists had entered the city on a fishing boat, has raised security concerns at country's coasts and the move is the outcome of efforts to enhance the coast security, sources said.