Paradip: In view of the rapid decline in fish population and death of Olive Ridley turtles and other marine creatures, the Odisha government has issued an order to stop the use of gill (phasi) and ring nets during fishing, sources said Monday
Odisha has over 480-km of coastline and fishermen use these two types of nets to make a catch at many places in the sea. Fishermen residing in and around this port town mostly use these two types of nets. However, a sudden decline in fish population and death of fingerlings has led the Odisha government to issue such a directive.
The matter came to the fore after the Additional Fisheries Officer (Marine) Kujang, in a letter to the Marine Fisheries Officer here stated that these two types of nets should not be used. However, after receipt of the letter, the concerned officials here have only issued an advisory to the fishermen asking them not to use these two types of fishing nets.
Sources said that the Odisha Marine Fishing Control Act-1981 bars the use of these two types of nets. However, fishermen use these two varieties despite restrictions as they can get a bigger catch. The fingerlings die after getting caught in these nets and this has led to a decrease in fish population in the sea, officials said.
There are some specific guidelines on use of the nets for fishing. The nets should be made up of cotton and nylon having multiple ends. The gill nets should have a length of 300 metres and a knot of 140 metres (less than six inches). These nets when used will help in only catching big fish while allowing the smaller ones, eggs and fingerlings to drop back into the sea. The ring net is also based on the above specification.
However, fishermen in their greed to catch more fish, fix an iron ring on the bottom part of the net. The fishermen hurl the nets in circular manner at a particular point of the sea and because the specifications are not followed along with the big fish also the smaller ones and fingerlings get trapped in the net. In most cases, fishermen using small boats use these two types of nets.
When contacted, Marine Fisheries Officer Jagannath Rao said that the fishermen have sought two days’ time when he met them Saturday and asked them to stop using the two varieties of nets mentioned above. After the time frame is over, raids will be conducted and ring and phasi nets will be seized if fishermen are found using those.
PNN/Agencies
