Fishermen threaten to strike over use of dragnets despite ban

You might want to stock up on the fish, for fishermen in the city, disgruntled with the government's failure to enforce the ban on purse seine nets, are planning to strike work. Over 1,000 fishermen gathered at Sassoon Dock on Friday and raised a protest against some "rogue" fishermen violating the ban and using the vast dragnets, some lined with LED lights to attract fish. A purse seine is a large wall of netting deployed around an entire area or school of fish.

Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti, a fishermen's body which organised the demonstration, urged the community to take up the issue with local representatives. Community leader Damodar Tandel, from Badhwar Park, said trawling off the coasts in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad was wearing down small fishermen.

"We will go on strike if our demands are not met. The government is failing to implement the ban. This is eating into the business of small-time fishermen. It is also affecting the marine ecology. We don't see the ban being implemented despite assurances from ministers," said Tandel.

In February 2016, the state government had framed guidelines to promote traditional fishing practices and banned the use of such nets within 12 nautical miles of the shore to preserve fish populations.

MLC Rahul Narvekar, who was present at the meet, said, "The government should take the strictest action against fishermen using LED purse seines. The agitation will continue if the state does not take necessary steps to give
relief to those relying on traditional fishing accessories."