Mangalore : Indian Coast Guard conducted community interactive meetings with fishermen across coastal Karnataka to create awareness about coastal security at Ullal in Mangalore on June 26, Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr KL Arun, Commandant of Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Kasturba Gandhi, said that fishing boats should go in for group fishing. He also said that fishermen must immediately report the suspicious boats or ships in their vicinity to the concerned authorities, he added.

He urged the fishermen of the coastal belt to carry the original boat registration certificate and the identity card along with them when they go out for fishing as suggested by Coastal Security Police.

Some fishermen also complained that the Coastal Guards officials were harassing them in the name of inspection in spite of producing the documents. In reply Arun urged the fishermen to note down the number on the boats and inform them.

The fishermen have to inform the coastal police when they see unfamiliar boats and any sort of suspicious activities, he said.