PUDUKOTTAI
Sixteen fishermen of Pudukottai district who were involved in the rescue and release of dugongs – a marine mammal – in a span of one year have been appreciated by the district administration for their role in the conservation of the marine mammal and the marine ecosystem.
While 12 fishermen are from Therkku Pudhukudi village, four others are from Vadakku Pudhukudi. Appreciation certificates signed by the District Collector P. Uma Maheswari were given to each fishermen on the occasion of the Republic Day celebrations on Tuesday besides to three Forest Department personnel including the Forest Range Officer of Aranthangi M. Sadhasivam for their guidance to the fishermen and their role in conservation of the marine mammal.
District Forest Officer, Pudukottai K. Sudhagar told The Hindu that four dugongs in three separate incidents got entangled in the nets of fishermen in a span of one year. In all these incidents, the fishermen rescued the four sea mammals and released them…