With a ban on deep sea fishing taking effect from Sunday, one of the largest fishing harbours of the country here would remain closed till June 15. The closure would affect about 50,000 people who are directly and indirectly dependent on the trade, a report said. The ban has been in vogue for 10 years. Earlier, the restrictions on fishing were for 45 days but it has been increased to 60 days over last three years. The ban is necessary as the life cycle mating and laying of eggs of the marine fish begins around this time. Fishing during this period affects egg-laying process and destroys the eggs. For this reason, there are curbs on fishing as per Odisha Marine Fishing Control Act 1981, said district fishery officer Gyanaranjan Samal. While the ban is strictly enforced in deep sea, there is little bit of relaxation for minor fishermen on fishing within five km periphery of the coast. They can fish using country boats (length not more than 15 mt) and specified fishing gear within this range. However, Srikant Parida, the president of Paradip Trawler Owners’ Association opposed some policies of the ban. We welcome the ban as it would help in growth of marine fishing population. But the foreign trawlers who fish in deep sea with the help of LoP (Letters of Permit) should also be brought under its purview, Parida argued. According to a study, many fish species have already disappeared from the sea due to dumping of plastic in the sea. The small pieces of plastic, consumed by the fish, often get stuck in their gills causing deaths. Experts believe that 30 per cent of human food comes from sea products and the source of sea foods is gradually shrinking due to dumping of plastic in sea. They demanded closure of plastic industry and a ban on use of plastic for the safety of the sea.