Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Mar 13: Purse seine fishermen association members staged a protest at Malpe harbour on Tuesday March 13 demanding to withdraw ban on light fishing.

In an order, the ministry of agriculture and farmer’s welfare, department of animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries banned fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) beyond territorial waters by bull or pair trawling.

The order also prohibited the use or installation or operation of surface or submerged artificial lights/ LED lights, fish light attractors or any other light equipment with or without generator on mechanized fishing vessel or motorized fishing craft for trawling, purse-seining and grill netting operations in the Indian EEZ beyond territorial waters. This notification was issued on November 10 last year.

Naveen Bangera, vice president of Akhila Karnatake fishermen association said, “The deep sea trawlers are violating the rules of the Government of India. They are using lights for underwater fishing and high volt lights (25 kilowatt) to attract fish which lie at the bottom. The purse seine trawler fishermen are ready to follow the conditions of the government. The Government of Karnataka ordered no fishing in April and May (especially for mackerel fish). The Karnataka fishermen invested upto Rs 30 to 35 lac to convert their vessels to undertake light fishing. All fishermen should use net of size greater than 30 mm.”

“On August 29, 2016 the central government gave permission for light fishing through Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). About 5000 families depend on fisheries. When the government granted permission for this, the boat owners purchased 25 KVA generator, 46 mm net and other supplementary commodities and invested Rs 30 lac to Rs 40 lac for adopting new methods of fishing, but now bull trawlers, horse power trawlers and others are violating government rules. Moreover, 40 fishermen work in one boat.”

“The temperature of the sea water has increased at the top of the water, so fish live underwater. The Government of India should ban plastic fish net for fishing. Unmolded plastic kills mermaid breeds and the use of high capacity engines spoils fish species,” he said.

There was a meeting about the issue with the fisheries minister Pramod Madhwaraj and he said that the issue could be sorted out within the association. “The chelt boat owners should have stopped their functioning from January 24 but they have not,” he said.

He demanded an extension of 90 days of vacation as earlier. “Let the government stop subsidy for those who are using 350 hp engines for fishing,” he said.

At a meeting on December 5, 2017 under the chairmanship of fishing ministries, considering the problems and the huge investment made by the fisherman, it was requested to write a letter to the Government of India to reconsider the order issued on November 10, 2017.

Naveen Bangera said, “The government should have control over deep sea trawling boats. Ban of light fishing is a political conspiracy. The order is suppressing the fishermen. purse seine fishermen association in Coastal Karnataka have a history of 43 years. Uniform policy must be maintained for all types of fishing. Considering all these points, the Government of Karnataka should implement a new policy with conditional rule.”

Babu Kulal, honorary president, Akhila Karnataka Fishermen Association Karwar-Udupi-Mangaluru (AKFA) Gurudas Bangera, president, AKFA (U-K-M), Bhasha Ahmed, vice president of AKFA, Ganapati Mangre, honorary advisor of AKFA, Ramesh Kundar, chief secretary, Nagaraj Suvarna, vice president of purse seine fishermen association, Malpe, Santhosh Salian, secretary, Narayana Karvi, president, purse seine fishermen association, Jatka Duggappa Bhatkala and others were present.