Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has imposed a two-month ban on coastline fishing to conserve fish in the sea during the breeding period. The ban imposed under Section 4 of the Odisha Marine Fishing Regulation Act prohibits mechanised vessels from undertaking fishing operations in the sea along the Odisha coast from April 14 to June 14. The fishermen and trawl operators had been asked not to undertake fishing voyages.
The ban extends to 12 nautical miles off the Odisha coast. However, non-mechanised small boats measuring less than 8.5 metres are exempted from the ban.
The 60-day fishing ban is being enforced simultaneously along the 480 km coastal of Odisha.
Jagannath Rao, Additional Director of Fisheries at Kujang said, “The ban has been imposed to avoid disturbances caused by trawlers during the breeding season. Fishermen have been instructed not to venture into the sea during the period.” Any violation of the ban would be dealt with stringent legal provisions, including confiscation of fishing vessels, said the official.
The annual fishing ban has been enforced keeping in view the larger interest of communities living on fishing activity. The ban aims at greater interest for the fishermen, resulting in a larger yield. Though the fishermen and stakeholders would be on the losing side due to the ban, it would reap long-term benefits for them in the form of higher catch, said officials.
The ban will hit those living in fishing and ancillary activities. Sea fishing has suffered major interruption this year owing to the frequent formation of low pressure and resultant cyclonic weather has posed major impediments as fishermen and crews were forced to suspend the fishing operation following nature-induced causes.
