---
title: "Kasimedu Trawler Owners Seek CM Vijay's Intervention Over Andhra Pradesh Seizures"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/kasimedu-trawler-owners-seek-cm-vijay-s-intervention-over-andhra-pradesh-seizure-z8jvk
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: India
published: 2026-08-01T15:52:57.000Z
modified: 2026-08-01T19:01:31.298Z
language: en-IN
---

# Kasimedu Trawler Owners Seek CM Vijay's Intervention Over Andhra Pradesh Seizures

Seven Chennai-based fishing vessels remain impounded in Nellore following a series of maritime disputes with Andhra Pradesh authorities. Local community leaders are calling on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to negotiate the release of the craft to prevent total structural loss.

## Key takeaways

- Seven mechanized boats from Kasimedu have been impounded at Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour in Andhra Pradesh for over 50 days.
- Andhra Pradesh Marine Police claim the boats violated the 5 nautical mile fishing limit, which the owners and community leaders deny.
- Owners believe their vessels were targeted because their green color matches boats from Karaikal involved in a previous maritime dispute.
- The seized boats are owned by families who possess only one craft, placing their entire economic survival at risk during the impoundment.

## Rising Tensions at Juvvaladinne Harbour

For more than 50 days, seven mechanized fishing boats from Chennai's Kasimedu Fishing Harbour have remained docked under police custody at Juvvaladinne in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. The impounded vessels belong to individual owners whose livelihoods depend entirely on these single assets. M. E. Raghupathi, a senior community leader representing the affected families, warned that the prolonged lack of maintenance will lead to the craft rotting and suffering permanent structural damage.

## Disputed Territorial Violations

The Andhra Pradesh Marine Police seized the vessels on various dates, alleging they were operating within 5 nautical miles (NM) of the coast—a zone reserved exclusively for smaller, traditional craft. However, Kasimedu community leader Manivannan disputes these claims. According to his account of the incidents:
- Two boats were simply transiting back to Chennai after fishing beyond the 12 NM limit.
- Two other vessels were adrift due to mechanical failures.
- The remaining three craft were operating in deep waters beyond 12 NM.

Although the Andhra Pradesh authorities released the laborers—who are ironically residents of Andhra Pradesh—the physical assets remain seized. A former Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department official noted that while inter-state talks occurred, Andhra Pradesh officials are hesitant to release the boats due to local political pledges regarding coastal fishing rights.

## The Green Boat Confusion

Karnan, one of the affected boat owners, linked the current crisis to a prior incident involving vessels from Karaikal, Puducherry. Before the seasonal fishing ban, two Karaikal boats were caught for shore-side violations and were subsequently taken away covertly. Because Chennai-based boats share the same green paint scheme as the Karaikal fleet, owners believe their vessels were targeted for retaliation once the fishing season resumed. The Chennai Mechanized Boat Fishermens Welfare Association maintains that Tamil Nadu boats have traditionally fished beyond the 12 NM mark off the Andhra coast for generations, often employing laborers from the very state that has now impounded their equipment.

Source: The Hindu — National

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/kasimedu-trawler-owners-seek-cm-vijay-s-intervention-over-andhra-pradesh-seizure-z8jvk
Reported from: The Hindu — National