Devbhumi Dwarka: Police on Sunday seized 55 fishing boats for allegedly engaging in banned “line fishing” activities in the district.

The Special Operations Group (SOG) launched a crackdown following specific inputs about illegal fishing. During checks at multiple locations in the Okha Madhi area, the team found 55 boats, operating in four groups, involved in line fishing.

All the boats were seized and legal action has been initiated against their owners, according to an official release.

The state government has banned both line fishing and light fishing methods due to their adverse environmental impact. Light fishing involves the use of artificial lights or fish attractors, with or without onboard generators, to enhance the catch.

Line fishing, on the other hand, involves groups of more than two boats deploying fishing lines in a coordinated manner.

Authorities said owners of such vessels are liable for penalties under the Gujarat Fisheries (Amendment) Rules, 2025. DeshGujarat