Maharashtra govt imposes ban on fishing during the breeding season; violators to pay hefty fines

The Maharashtra government recently imposed a ban on fishing activities from June 1 to July 31, citing the onset of the fish breeding season. As per the reports, the decision has been taken under the Maharashtra Marine Fishing Regulation Act 1981, as standard procedure. The move is aimed at limiting the capture of marine life that comes near the shore for breeding purposes.

Under the order, machined fishing within 12 nautical miles from the state’s coast is strictly prohibited. Additionally, an exorbitant fine will be levied on violators. Earlier, this penalty was significantly low and it failed to restrict trawlers from operating in the sea, flouting norms.

An official of the fisheries department also stated that the fishermen who do not have the motor boats or boats with engines are exempted from the ban. Notably, the fishing ban is imposed by the state government annually during June and July to conserve the marine population.

This period usually marks rough seas and the breeding time for a lot of fish and other marine species. And fishing during the breeding season can adversely impact the marine eco-system, directly worsening the food chain.