KOLLAM: With the trawling ban to be imposed soon, the authorities feign ignorance about the small mesh sizes of fishing nets used by both traditional fishermen and trawlers, which sap the marine wealth. No mandate has been given on the mesh size of fishing nets in the Marine Fishing Regulation Act, except for the ones used in trawling boats. “The mesh size of fishing nets decides the size of fish caught. It is critical as small mesh sweeps out small fish from the sea, which is dangerous for its existence,” Mr K. Sunil Mohammed, scientist at Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, told DC. The Marine Fishing Regulation Act has limited the size of mesh used in trawling nets to 35 mm. But there is no regulation on the nets used by traditional fishermen and other fishing vessels.
“The CMFRI had given a proposal on the mandates to be given on using mesh sizes in 2013, but it was not implemented. The mandate of 35 mm itself is often violated by trawlers,” Mr. Sunil Mohammed said. The amount of fish caught is also determined by the size of the nets used, he added. Fishing fish fries using smaller nets also affects the economy, according to experts. If small fish is left to grow bigger, even for two more months, it can be financially more viable.
The fries are destroyed in huge numbers even if they are caught. Eight commissions have been appointed to check unscientific and improper practices of fishing along the coastal areas of Kerala. However, only a single recommendation of engaging trawling has been implemented as a statute. The commissions had also recommended banning fishing nets with a mesh size below 28 mm, including those in Chinese and trammel nets, according to experts.
