‘Light fishing’ to stop from today

Chaos prevailed in Malpe port when members of Deep Sea Trawl Boats’ Association closed the gates of the harbour in protest against the Fisheries Department’s failure to ban ‘light fishing operation’ in deep sea on Tuesday.

The fishermen in Malpe port, led by association president Kishore Suvarna, were frustrated by the inaction of officials, sources added.

The act of the deep sea trawl boat fishermen closing the gates left the purse seine boat fishermen annoyed. In retaliation, the latter reopened the gates, which only triggered a clash between the fishermen.

The police present at the spot immediately intervened and ensured that the situation was brought under control.

Fisheries Department Deputy Director P Parshwanath said that the state and Centre had banned the use of lights during fishing. “Light fishing is, therefore, totally illegal,” he stressed and added that the Centre had even urged state government and the Coast Guard to take action against fishermen using lights during fishing.

He warned that stringent action will be taken against the fishing practices using lights. “Legal actions like FIR will be registered against the offenders,” he said.

Fishermen using purse seine boats claimed that light fishing happens outside 12 nautical miles in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Later, Yashodhar Amin, leader of purse seine boat fishermen agreed to adhere to the directives of the deputy director of the Fisheries Department and stop light fishing from Wednesday.