After the state government startedacting against trawlers using LED for fishing, various fishing associations on Tuesday met fisheries minister Nilkanth Halarnkar to convince him that LEDs are used for fishing in other countries. The associations said that this method does not have any adverse impact on the fish population beyond particular nautical miles.
Halarnkar said that the fishing associations urged him to take up the issue with the Union government to allow them to use LED lamps beyond the permitted nautical miles.
“The central government has banned the use of LED lamps for fishing and we cannot supersede the same. They requested me to send their proposal to the central government,” Halarnkar said. The fisheries minister also said that the fishing season has commenced and small boats have started venturing into the sea. He also said that boats which use purse-seine nets (does not touch the seabed and can have low levels of accidental catch of unwanted species) still haven’t ventured into the sea. “They will venture when they think it is a good time to earn a good profit,” Halarnkar said.
Last week, he had said that the state government would check “each and every boat” leaving jetties to ensure that they are not carrying any LED lamps. “In case any LEDs are found in trawlers anchored at jetties, a first information report (FIR) will be registered against them,” Halarnkar had said.