Bhubaneswar: The 61-day ban fishing along the Odisha coast has been lifted by the state government, allowing the fishermen to resume their operations in the sea.
Sources said members of the fishing community are now allowed to use mechanised vessels for fishing activities along the Odisha coast with the ban period coming to an end.
The state government had imposed a two-month ban on fishing along the entire Odisha coast in a bid to conserve fish stock in sea during the breeding period.
As per the provisions of the Odisha Marine Fishing Regulation Act, the state government had prohibited fishing within territorial waters along the entire coastline by all the fishing vessels except traditional fishing crafts (measuring up to 8.5 metre) with or without engine from April 15 to June 14 for 61 days.
However, restrictions will remain in force in particular areas in the sea due to some activities of DRDO.
The Directorate of Fisheries had directed the additional fisheries officers of Ganjam, Kujang, Balasore and Puri and district fisheries officer of Balugaon to inform all stakeholders to follow the notification meticulously during the period.
Necessary steps were taken to make marine fishermen aware of the uniform ban along Odisha coast, it added.
To avoid disturbances caused by trawl fishing during the breeding season, the fishermen were instructed not to venture into the sea during the ‘fishing ban’ period under section- 4 of Odisha Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982, said an official.
Around 21,000 fishing vessels including 2000 trawlers are registered with the Fisheries Department of the state. During the ban, the mechanised fishing vessels were not allowed to venture into sea. The small mechanised and non-mechanised boats less than 8.5 meter long which use nets with big gaps, are exempted, he said.
The monsoon season is considered the breeding season of nearly 300 species including the delicious Hilsa along the coast of Odisha. The traditional fishermen have been exempted from the fishing ban. However, they are permitted to carry out fishing only in the territorial waters and catch only pelagic fish.