Panaji: The National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) has welcomed Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh’s move to impose an uniform ban on LED fishing and bull trawling in the Indian exclusive economic zone up to 200 nautical miles.
LED lights, which are used of mostly between 1600 watts and 5000 watts, are powered by additional generator and could attract fish up to 10 km.
Agnelo Rodrigues, president, Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott, the body representing Goa’s traditional coastal fishing communities, and Olancio Simoes, vice president of NFF, said in a statement on Monday that the State government finally realised the seriousness of the issue after lathi-charging agitating traditional fisherpersons in May last year.
“Due to the intense heat generated by the lights, offspring along with all corals and marine vegetation get destroyed,” said Mr. Simoes.
Mr. Simoes said the NFF will be hosting the 7th general assembly of the World Forum of the Fisher Peoples (WFFP) between November 15 and 21 in New Delhi.
The inauguration ceremony will be attended by fishworker leaders from 48 countries. The event will be presided over by Narendra Patil, chairperson, NFF, Naseegh Jaffer, secretary general, WFFP, Nadine Orchid, coordinator, WFFP, and Herman Kumara, chairperson, Sri Lanka National Fisheries Solidarity Movement.
