The Purse Seine Fishermen’s Association, Malpe, has urged the government to allow fishing using lights. Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Naveen Bangera, vice-president, All Karnataka Purse Seine Fishermen’s Association, said that the Union government had changed rules on usage of lights by fishing boats without taking the Purse Seine Boat fishermen or their condition into consideration. Purse Seine boat fishing was one of the different types of fishing practised by fishermen in coastal districts. About 800 purse seine boats were operating in nine fisheries harbours in the State. On an average, 35 to 40 fishermen were employed in a purse seine boat. Hence, there were over 5,000 families which were totally dependent on purse seine boat fishing including the fisherfolk, and those working in ice plants, vans, and loading work. These fishermen took to fishing in the purse seine boats after the monsoon. They used lights for catching fish which was permitted by the Union government for last two years. Such fishing was done in other countries also. It was the Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA), which had introduced the fishing by use of lights. The Union government itself had in its order approved this fishing in August, 2016. However, some rich fishermen here had indulged in misleading propaganda that this type of fishing led to fish famine and also submitted a memorandum to the officers of the Union government on this issue. These officers had issued an order prohibiting the use of lights without bothering about the fate of the thousands of purse seine boat fishermen and their families. This order would also affect fish loaders, vans and trucks transporting fish and ice plants. The purse seine boat fishermen had taken bank loans of ?40 lakh per boat for generators and other equipments. The allegation that this type of fishing would destroy small fish was totally misleading. It was only in the Malpe fisheries harbour that vested interests were trying to block fishing by using lights. If this was stopped, the purse seine fishermen would have no future at all. The Union government should bring in a uniform fishing law applicable to all states to tackle all issues related to fishing, Mr. Bangera said.