Move to amend Marine Fishing Regulation Act on anvil

Mangaluru: A proposed amendment to 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 offences under the said act are non-cognisable and the department at best can impose a maximum fine of up to Rs 5,000, which was a big amount by the late 1980s, said Ramacharya, director, department of fisheries.
In an informal chat with STOI on the sidelines of a department workshop here, Ramacharya said the proposed amendment seeks to make various offences under the act cognisable. “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 legislature session.
The proposed amendment will be placed in the public domain for suggestions/ objections, Ramacharya said, adding the intent is not to use it to browbeat fishermen, but to ensure their welfare by adherence to rules. “We are considering setting up an independent fisheries enforcement unit on the lines of similar arrangements in Kerala, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu or alternatively empower Coastal Security Police to act once the amendment is through,” he said.
CSP SP R Chethan 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 the use of banned nets. The enforcement wing also addresses issues like juvenile fishing, which has a bearing on future fish production as well as deals with potential law and order issues that can arise in the high seas.