Gujarat Fishermen to halt fishing a month before schedule

Porbandar, 16 March 2014

To protect some varieties of fishes that are near extinction, Gujarat fishermen have taken decision to stop all fishing activities during 7 May-15 August this year. Traditionally fisherman put fishing activities on halt during monsoon period of 10 June-15 August to allow breeding of fishes in sea. However this year fishermen will halt their activity one month in advance.

This decision was taken in a meeting of Akhil Gujarat Machhimar Mahamandal held at Porbandar on Saturday.

Fishermen were of opinion that personnet method of catching fishes should be stopped. They opined that Lining fishing method must be stopped too. While in personnet method the fishermen spread wide net to kill fishes, in lining fishing method 80-100 fishing boats sail parallel and start trolling, due to which even small fishes and varieties of sea-vegetation are destroyed. This damages food chain and harms coastal environment which ultimately results in low catch.

President of Akhil Gujarat Machhimar Mahamandal Gopalbhai Fofandi, Bargam Samasta Kharwa Gyati president Dilipbhai Lodhari, vice president Jitubhai Kuhada, Rajya Sabha MP Chunibhai Gohel, Boat Assciation president Narshibhai Jungi, Mangrol’s Govindbhai Gosia, Madhabhai etc were present in this meeting.