Kerala fisheries department moves to stop juvenile fishing

KOLLAM: The fisheries department has strengthened its efforts to stop the practice of juvenile fish catching. The department has deployed its personnel to monitor whether the catch in the fishing boats returning to Neendakara fishing harbour contains juvenile fish below the minimum legal size.

It is from Neendakara fishing station that the highest number of vessels (1,300) in the state venture out for fishing.

As the fishing boats - that left Neendakara harbour after the trawling ban ending on Tuesday - have started arriving with 'karikadi' and other varieties of fish on Wednesday, the department is giving special attention to ensure that no juvenile fish is caught.

A special unit under an assistant director of fisheries and marine enforcement wing has been deployed at the fisheries station at Neendakara to keep a watch on the boats that reach the port.

"We have a mechanism in place to check unsustainable practices. So far, we have not seen any misconduct from the boats," said deputy director of fisheries H Salim.

It was in view of the spawning fish season that the annual exercise of trawling ban was enforced.

Salim said that the fish wealth has been greatly depleted due to unsustainable fishing practices.

"A section of boat owners and some traditional fishermen were involved in catching juvenile fish for the fishmeal industries in Mangaluru, Kulachal and Kochi," he pointed out.

"As juvenile fish catching became rampant and started affecting the total catch, the government has brought out a list of minimum legal size for various species which can be caught as per the recommendation of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute," he said.

"Our officers can seize the catch, destroy it and impose a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh on any of the fishing vessels if found carrying juvenile fish that do not meet the MLS," Salim said.