Karnataka: Fisheries department mulls amendment to Act to curb delinquent acts by fishermen

MANGALURU: A proposed amendment to the Karnataka Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1986 and rules framed therein a year later will empower the department of fisheries to curb delinquent acts by fishermen. At present, various offenses under the said Act are non-cognisable and the department at best can impose a maximum fine of up to Rs 5000, which was a big amount by the late 1980s stand, Ramacharya, director, department of fisheries, said.
In an informal chat with TOI on the side-lines of a department workshop here, Ramacharya said the proposed amendment seeks to make various offences under the Act cognizable. “We have mooted to raise the upper limit of fine that can be imposed under the amended Act to Rs 2.5 lakh,” the director said. The department of law is vetting the proposed amendment and is expected to be tabled in the forthcoming session of the state legislature.
The proposed amendment will be placed in public domain for suggestions/objections, if any, Ramacharya said adding the intent is not to use it to browbeat fishermen, but their welfare by adherence to rules. “We are considering setting up an independent fisheries enforcement unit on lines with similar arrangements in Kerala, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu or alternatively empower Coastal Security Police to Act once the amendment is through,” he said.
R Chethan, superintendent of police, CSP said the department of fisheries at present compounds fine as applicable for various offences under the Act such as light fishing, bull trawling and no separate criminal offence is made out. Bhaskar Rao, additional-director general of police (Internal Security Division) said while empowering CSP under the Act is a welcome step, one has to wait for the nuances of how the department has set out to achieve it.
Incidentally, the marine enforcement wing that Tamil Nadu inaugurated in November last not only patrols the high Seas, but also enforces fishing regulations, deters illegal and destructive fishing activities and acts against use of banned nets. The enforcement wing also addresses issues such as juvenile fishing, which has a bearing on future fish production as well as deals with potential law and order situations that can arise on the high seas.