The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ordered the Fisheries Department to direct the Pudukottai fishermen to stop fishing in the area using motorised boats in the region till June 14. Justice M.S. Ramesh issued the direction to the Fisheries Department to see that steps are taken to forbear motorised boats from fishing in the region till June 14. The case has been posted for further hearing on June 18. The court was hearing the plea which sought a ban on fishing in Pudukottai till June. Both the Central and the State Governments had imposed a ban on fishing in the East Coast from April 15 to June 14, in the wake of the commencement of the fish-breeding season.