Karwar: Issuance of biometric cards to fishermen in Uttara Kannada could be affected as collection of data is unlikely to be completed within the deadline. Officials on Saturday said that it is impossible to collect the data of 24,000 fishermen by July 5.

Uttara Kannada has over 57,000 fishermen who venture into the sea to catch fish. After the 2008 Mumbai attack in which terrorists reached the country through the sea route, the government made it mandatory for fishermen to have biometric card. In 2012-13, 34,000 fishermen received these cards from the fisheries department. The rest have to provide their biometric details at the five registration centres run by BEL before July 5.

Earlier, the government had asked the fishermen to provide their details from June 20-30. According to officials and fishermen, one centre can collect details of 60 persons a day.

Fishermen alleged that their data could not be collected on July 20 and 21 due to a snag at the regional centres. On June 22, the details of only 15 fishermen were collected. Repeated technical problems at these centres are a big problem, said Narayan Kharvi, a boat owner.

"Fishing form mechanized boats is banned till August 1. Thereafter, we must have biometric cards to venture into the sea.

Security agencies often stop boats to check the antecedents of fishermen. The government should increase the number of enrolment centres and extend the deadline so that all of us get these cards," said Kiran Majalikar, a fisherman.

Statistics show that only 2,249 biometric cards have been issued to fishermen this year, said M N Dodmani, deputy director, fisheries department, Karwar. He said, "I will write to the government, requesting extension of deadline for registration."