The 61-day ban on fishing ended on Thursday night and around 1,200 mechanised boats from Ramanathapuram prepared to venture into the sea on Friday night. However, a weather warning was issued on Thursday asking the the fishermen to not to venture into the sea for the next 24 hours. The Regional Weather Forecasting Centre has issued a warning for fishermen in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts, asking them not to venture into the sea as strong winds and high waves are likely along Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal coasts and over Andaman and Nicobar area. The fishing ban was imposed on April 15. District secretary of Tamil Nadu mechanised boats fishermen’s association, B Jesuraja said that the extended fishing ban period, which had earlier been declared for 45 days, had affected the fishermen in many ways. Several families were finding it difficult to make both ends meet, he added. Over 750 mechanised boats in Rameswaram and another 1,200 boats in Ramanathapuram had been kept ready to begin fishing for this season on Friday night. Repair costs for the boats, including purchase of new ropes and equipment has cost the fishermen between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 4 lakh and most of them have borrowed hefty amounts hoping that the fishing would bring them good returns, said Jesuraja. He said that the climatic condition with no rain and gusty winds did not look very conducive for fishing activity but said that they were hoping for the best. We just hope that we do not meet with any conflict with the Sri Lankan fishermen and get a chance to fish in our traditional waters, said Jesuraja. Meanwhile, the Ramanathapuram district collector S Natarajan said that the fishermen should take precautions and abstain from crossing the international maritime border line. He has also said that they should not use nets that are banned by the government. In Kanyakumari, 260 mechanised boats were kept ready for fishing, but the officials have advised them against venturing into the sea on Friday due to rough weather.