MUMBAI
Damodar Tandel, president of Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti, said that these purse seines nets have small mesh sizes and are huge in size and can be spread over a three-kilometre radius to catch fishes in large quantities.
The fishermen's community is up in arms against the Maharashtra state government and has even warned them that no action is being taken against 2,000 boats involved in illegal fishing in the coast, which use banned purse seine nets, leaving hardly any catch for others. The fishermen will soon be forced to take law and order in their hands and will begin an agitation by catching such illegal operators in the sea.
Damodar Tandel, president of Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti, said that these purse seines nets have small mesh sizes and are huge in size and can be spread over a three-kilometre radius to catch fishes in large quantities. This hardly leaves any fish for local fishermen, who use traditional methods of catch fish. There is also a severe scarcity of fishes due to overfishing by bigger bussinesmen. "The situation has reached such a point that now the local fishermen's catch is reduced to just 20 per cent and the community seems to be sailing in the same boat as the drought-hit farmers," said Tandel.
"These nets have been banned everywhere due to their small mesh size, catching even small fish. This creates a major ecological imbalance as even fishes that are breeding are caught. This has been going on for over 15 years now, and the catch has been severely hit. In fact, earlier the Maharashtra coast boasted of 128 species of fishes and now out of which only 75 to 80 species are left," Tandel said, adding that in the last 10 years itself the pomfret catch, which is the most popularly consumed fish from 8,000 tonnes has now reduced to 500 tonnes.
The fishermen have been blaming rampant corruption due to which around Mumbai, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg coast there are 900, 500 and 600 trawlers respectively being operated illegally using the purse seine nets.
"Today, the 10 lakh fishermen's community of Maharashtra whose life depends on fishing is facing the same problems that the farmers of Maharashtra are facing and committing sucides, but we want to tell the Chief Minister that we will not commit suicides instead we will soon start a agitation in the sea and as soon as our people find any boats that are operating illegally we will stop them and if there is a law and order situation the responsibility will be that of the Government authourities," added Tandel stating that the meetings have been conducted at various locations and the agitation in konkan has already begun and will follow in other places too now.
Sanjay Koli who represents the fishing community of Vasai said that there was no other option left other than agitation as despite the fact that in 2012 Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandary, Dairying and Fisheries wrote to the Secretary Dairy development and Fisheries Maharashtra stating that the State Government was advised not to allow any type of unethical, illegal and harmful fishing practices including purse seining irrespective of jurisdiction yet no action was being taken.
In fact fishermen also warned that apart from affecting their trade these illegal operators also pose a security risk to Maharashtra as who knows who is operating the illegal boats and these can also be used by terrorists too.
Maharashtra has 23,000 fishing boats out of which 13,000 boats are mechanized and the annual catch of around 3.5 lakh metric tonnes is worth Rupees 4000 crores of which Rupees 2000 crores is exports.
Ratan Tata's neighbours share stories of everyday encounters with him, say he was...
Viral video: Internet can't stop gushing over this little girl's breathtaking dance, WATCH
THIS Gautam Adani company's shares are in spotlight as it raises Rs 42000000000 in...
Delhi-NCR's air quality turns 'poor', AQI reaches...
India-Canada row: ‘No action on request to arrest Lawrence Bishnoi gang members’, says MEA
Cyclone Alert: Odisha coast likely to face cyclone next week, IMD issues alert
Noida school horror: Victim's mother reveals 'my daughter was told...'
‘India and Pakistan should bury the past’: Nawaz Sharif after S Jaishankar's visit
'Dil to bachcha hai ji': Rahul Gandhi's heartfelt interaction with kids, WATCH viral video
JEE Main 2025: NTA releases important notice on JEE Main exam pattern
Blow to Mukesh Ambani as Reliance Jio loses 10.9 million subscribers due to...
Joe Biden reacts to Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar's killing, says 'that obstacle no longer exists but...'
Viral video: Desi girl's sizzling dance to 'Aaj Ki Raat' impresses internet, watch
Watch: Heartwarming video of girl treating slippers like a baby goes viral
Earn Rs 250000000 through THIS NASA challenge: Here’s how you can participate
DNA TV Show: Bahraich murder accused shot in police encounter near Nepal border; 5 held
Good news for Narayana Murthy, Infosys net profit rises to Rs 6,506 crore
Tamannaah Bhatia questioned by ED in Guwahati in money laundering case, details inside
Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed in Gaza, Israel PM Netanyahu confirms
UGC NET June 2024 Result DECLARED: NTA announces UGC NET 2024 June exam result online, check here
Did IDF eliminate Yahya Sinwar, or has Martyr been born in Gaza?
Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar among 3 killed by Israel? Israel Defense Forces updates
Kangana Ranaut's Emergency finally cleared by CBFC, new release date...
Here's the film after which Shah Rukh Khan started drinking, his co-stars were Aishwarya Rai and...
Akash Ambani, Shloka Mehta live on 27th floor of Rs 15000 crore Antilia, here's why
Young entrepreneur’s Rahul Sachdeva journey to make foreign education accessible
Is Rajinikanth's Poes Garden home flooded amid Chennai rains? Here's the truth behind viral video
'My family is broken but..': Zeeshan Siddiqui's first reaction to father Baba Siddiqui's death
DNA Auto Award 2024 Has Spoken: Jawa 42 FJ, bringing Neo-classic revolution in Motor Industry
Apple iPad 10th gen vs iPad 9th gen: Should you buy or wait for iPad 11?
Nita Ambani's hairstylist explains why haircuts can't fix damage and offers solutions
Bigg Boss Kannada's Kiccha Sudeepa retires from hosting duties, says 'let's make this season...'
Air India flight from Mumbai transmits emergency signal over London, claims Flight tracker
Elon Musk applauds India's decision: Spectrum allocation favors open access and innovation
BIG UPDATE on IPL auction, Saudi Arabia to host event, will take place on...
Two Bahraich violence accused shot by police in encounter while fleeing to Nepal; 5 held
'I won’t be returning': South African legend bids farewell to Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of IPL 2025
Indian stargazers spot rare, ancient comet after 80,000 years, see breathtaking pics
'46 all-out new 36 all-out?': Cricket Australia trolls India after batting collapse vs New Zealand
Karwa Chauth 2024: Know the date, timings, history and significance
Mukesh Ambani's Jio superhit 5G plan, offers 90 days validity with unlimited data
IND vs NZ: Virat Kohli equals THIS unwanted record with 9-ball duck against New Zealand in 1st Test
Proba-3: ISRO to launch ESA Solar Eclipse Mission with precision satellites
'Law not blind': Supreme court makes 2 BIG CHANGES, unveils new justice lady and replaced…
J-K: Several CRPF Jawans injured in road accident in Budgam, probe underway
Who is Justice Sanjiv Khanna named CJI Chandrachud's successor, could become next Chief Justice?
Mukesh Ambani's BIG move: Reliance investors to get this DIWALI bonanza, know details here
'Ravan ko kisne maara?' This kid's hilarious answer will leave your in splits, WATCH viral video
Nayab Singh Saini takes oath as Haryana CM in presence of PM Modi, BJP brass
IND vs NZ: India all out for 46 runs, lowest test score at home
Hunter's Moon 2024: NASA drops first glimpse of brightest Supermoon, shares its significance
Meet man, IIT graduate who worked for Indian Railways, then went on to join Elon Musk's...