Gandhinagar: The Government of Gujarat, via gazette notification, has banned the “Line Fishing Method” and “Light Fishing or LED Light Fishing Method” under the amended rules of the Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003. The new rules, published by the Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Co-operation Department, come after public consultation on the draft rules published in October 2024.

The Gujarat Fisheries (Amendment) Rules, 2025, states, “Light fishing, or LED light fishing, means fishing done by using or installing or operating on surface or submerged artificial lights/LED lights (under the sea water), fish light attractors, or any other light equipment with or without generators on any type of fishing vessel (craft) for any type of fishing in territorial waters.”

“Line fishing method” means the activity of line-up fishing in a row by the fishermen using a group of more than two fishing boats.”

Both methods have now been declared illegal for fishing in the state’s territorial waters, as the notification states, “No fishing activities can be done using the “Line Fishing Method” and “Light Fishing or LED Light Fishing Method” or other unauthorized fishing method as well as by using unauthorized nets or other unauthorized devices. On violation of the rule, the owner of such fishing vessel shall be liable to fine and punishment as per the provisions of section 21 of Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003.”

The government has also amended and added some rules, which are stated below:

No fishing vessel shall operate beyond any area in the “No Fishing Zone” as notified by the Ministry of
Home Affairs, Government of India through order dated 4th May, 1993, vide its org no.:1-11011/6/93
ISDI(B).

No fishing vessel shall cross the notional Indo-Pak International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

Any person engaged in fishing activity or any fishing vessel which crosses or violates the International
Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), the owner of such fishing vessel shall be liable to fine and punishment
as per the provisions of section 21 of Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003 and not get any kind of Fisheries
Department’s assistance in future.

Facility for docking (entry into the dock) of the vessel seized under sub-section (7) of section 15 of the said
Act, charge per day of maintenance Rs.100 /- will be recovered from the owner of the fishing vessels by
the Enforcement Officer.

No person shall go for fishing in the fishing boat without valid Identity Cards, necessary Licences /
Certificates, required for the operation of such fishing boats, issued by the Government from time to time.

No fishing boat shall go for fishing without Automatic Identification System (AIS) or any other tracking
device, as specified by the Government, with required licenses/ certificates issued by the competent
authority and the Automatic Identification System (AIS) or any other tracking device, as specified by the
Government, shall be operational throughout the fishing operation.”