Ban on Mechanised Fishing Kicks Off in Coastal Areas from June 1 to July 31
Udupi: A two-month ban on mechanised fishing in coastal areas of the district will commence from June 1 to July 31, as the rainy season also happens to be the breeding period for fish.
The mechanised boats will be anchored at the ports from June 1 to July 31. The ban has been imposed to ensure that the marine fish population increases, since it is the mating period. Therefore, fishing with motorised boats has been banned for 61 days like every year.
The two month gap will also provide fishermen a much needed break from the routine, and it gives them a chance to repair their boats and fishing nets.
Hence, it is necessary to impose a ban on deep water and mechanised fishing, so that the fish population multiplies. Annually, the administration imposes a ban on fishing for two months for this purpose.
The ban also applies to boats having inboard and outboard engines above 10 hp. The ban orders have been issued by the State government under the Karnataka Marine Fishing (Regulation) Act.
The Union Ministry for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries has banned fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone on the West Coast (from 12 to 200 nautical miles), including Karnataka, during the same period, that is from June 1 to July 31.
Fishermen and fishing boats found violating the ban would not only be fined under the Karnataka Marine Fishing (Regulation) Act, but they will also become ineligible to receive diesel subsidy for their boats for over a year.
During the ban period, fishermen generally opt for traditional methods of fishing, using country crafts, to earn their livelihood. They go four to five nautical miles into the sea and catch fish in a traditional way. Some others go fishing at the inland water bodies like rivers and lakes. The fishermen catch commonly found fish in rivers and lakes like ‘Kaane,’ ‘Mugudu,’ ‘Payye,’ ‘Bale meenu,’ and others, which fetch good prices at the market.
