Two-Month Marine Fishing Ban Along Odisha Coast From Today, Know Why

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Bhubaneswar: In a bid to conserve fish stock in sea during the breeding period, the Odisha government imposed a two-month ban on fishing aong the state’s coast from Saturday.

As per the provisions of of the Odisha Marine Fishing Regulation Act, the state government prohibited fishing within territorial waters along the entire coastline by all the fishing vessels except traditional fishing crafts (upto 8.5 metre) with or without engine from April 15 to June 14 for 61 days.

The Directorate of Fisheries 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 may be 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 are 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 will not be 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.