The combine of boat owners, fishermen, traders, brokers and other workers at the Munambam fishing harbour has said they will end juvenile fishing as well as prevent sale and trade of juvenile fishes from May 10, a decision that has widely been welcomed. However, fisheries sources, who have been fighting a long battle against the destructive practice, said that the decision came after a long spell of juvenile fishing, which would have serious consequences for the future. Juvenile fishing was rampant till recently, they said and claimed that the Fisheries Department had been inactive. The allegation has, however, been denied by the department. An official said that several boats had been fined for engaging in juvenile fishing in recent times. Munambam Harbour Tharakans’ Association secretary K.B. Rajeev said it had been found that some boats were exclusively engaged in juvenile fishing. The decision to end the practice was taken to ensure a better future. Charles George of Matsya Thozhilali Aikya Vedi, who had been calling for an end to juvenile fishing, welcomed the decision. He said fishermen engaged in juvenile fishing were building their own traps. A decision to stop the destructive practice was a welcome one, he said. Mr. George said that there had been a consensus since July 2016 that fishermen of all categories would desist from juvenile fishing. However, the agreement had not been honoured. Even at this point, it is not late to end the practice, he said.