Mira Bhayandar: In a welcome relief for the fishing community, Minister for Fisheries and Ports Nitesh Rane has ordered officials attached to the Department of Fisheries to immediately roll-back notices which have been issued to fishermen engaged in traditional fishing activities in Thane and Palghar districts.
About The Order
The orders followed after a delegation under the aegis of Devendra Tandel led-Akhil Bhartiya Machhimar Kruti Samithi (ABMKS), met the minister and apprised him about the unjustified notices sent to fishermen engaged in traditional fishing on Monday.
To keep a tab on illegal fishing activities and enhance marine security, the state fisheries department had launched artificial intelligence (AI) powered drones along the state's coastline in seven districts including Uttan in Thane district on 9, January. However, the drones turned out to be cause of concern for the fishermen who were issued notices for using gillnets and slider booms.
The fishermen contended that use of purse seine nets supported by hydraulic winch (boom) has been prohibited to conserve the fish stock. “However, despite the fact that there was no such restriction on using traditional methods like gillnets and normal booms, the department slapped notices on fishermen on the virtue of data captured by the drones. We brought this unmindful and unjustified action to the notice of the minister who had assured us to the needful,” said former corporator and ABMKS working president- Bernard D’mello.
While gillnets are one of the oldest traditional fishing methods that involves using a wall of netting to catch fish as they swim through, slider booms are designed to allow heavy weights to slide along a line in ledger rigs. The minister also assured the delegation that the fishing community will neither face any obstacles in renewing the licenses of their fishing boats, nor will their diesel subsidy be held-up in any circumstances.
