'Light fishing has come as blow to fish stock, traditional fishermen'

Karwar: “Light fishing must be completely prohibited to save lakhs of traditional fishermen and to protect the fish”, demanded Federation of Uttara Kannada district Country Boat & Traditional Boat Fishermen. The members of the federation submitted a memorandum in this regard to the deputy commissioner in Karwar on Monday.

Speaking to presspersons later, Federation president Sadanand Harikantra alleged that unscientific fishing was going on by purse seine boats violating the court orders. Instead of 40 mm fishing nets, 10 to 12 mm fishing nets were being used. Instead of taking up fishing beyond 12 nautical miles away, it was being done at six nautical miles. Also instead of fishing for ten days a month, light fishing for the entire month was being carried out.

Harikantra said that though they had brought the matter to the notice of the officers of the Fisheries Department light fishing had not come down. Information regarding the unscientific fishing had also been given to Coastal Police, Coast Guard and the police but none of the officials had been able to take action against those indulging in light fishing nor check light fishing. The departments were pointing out fingers at the other department and were just washing their hands from the responsibility. This was just helping people who were on a spree to loot fish and not take up ethical fishing. It had also come as a big blow to the traditional fishermen who were following the fishing norms.

He said that the use of lights by purse seine boats is one of the prime reasons for the decline in fish stocks especially fingerlings of several important species.

Powered by generators, the lights attract fish including fingerlings for a distance of one kilometre. They are then scooped up in bulk by the 
purse seine fishermen, which result in the decline in fish stocks. The traditional fishermen are worst-affected and are likely to come to the streets without any sort of employment if the use of lights for fishing continues. Such unscientific fishing method should be curtailed, he demanded

He said the practice of bull trawling also results in the destruction of fish. A time will arise when the traditional fishermen may have to quit their profession of fishing, he warned.

“While the appeal of traditional fishermen regarding the prohibition of light fishing was being filed by 
the government in the court, only Dakshin Kannada and Udupi districts were mentioned in it. The name of Uttara Kannada was not included. If such negligence and apathy continue, a stern protest will be launched in days to come. Then the officers will be held responsible for disasters”, he cautioned.

Federation leaders Sudhakar Tari, Sheidhar Ambiga, Prashant Metha, Ramesh Metha, Somnath Moger and others were present.