PORVORIM: Fisheries Minister Vinod Palyekar on Wednesday said the government will soon amend the Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980, to ban LED fishing and bull trawling. The minister has also decided to write to the Prime Minister seeking a ban on LED fishing across the country.
Addressing the media, Palyekar said, “We had a meeting with officials of neighbouring coastal states to discuss the ban of LED fishing and bull trawling. These two deadly methods should be banned completely and our government is committed to it.”
He added, “Amendments will be made to the existing Marine Fishing Regulation Act 1980. The changes that will be added are a ban on LED fishing and bull trawling. I will also write to the Prime Minister seeking LED fishing ban across the country.”
Palyekar said that the neighbouring coastal states had a general consensus that a regulatory amendment should be enacted in Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980 which could conserve resources. He also said that the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has asked to ban LED fishing within the territorial waters.
Palyekar raised concern that fishing vessels from neighbouring state are fishing in the territorial waters of Goa and a discussion needs to be carried out with other state fisheries ministers on this. “The government is receiving complaints that LED fishing in is on during odd hours, despite a ban,” the minister added. “Ban on LED fishing will be strictly implemented within 12 nautical miles by the State government. Beyond 12 nautical miles, which comes under the purview of the central government, this will be implemented after discussion with Fisheries Development Commission and the Union Minister for Fisheries,” he said.Goa has 1104 registered fishing vessels and 2522 fishing canoes and it was the demand of traditional fishermen to ban LED fishing and bull trawling.
