The Forest Department has banned fishing in the boat-landing area and boat channel in the Mullaperiyar lake in Thekkady.
An official of the Forest Department said that a meeting of the local people will be convened this week to inform them about the need for enforcing the ban and the department wants to implement the ban with peoples’ participation.
It was decided to impose the ban strictly as it has been noted that long net extending up to the two ends of the lake were used for fishing by local people, It is likely to create accident, as the boat travels crossing the nets, he said.
The fishing rights in the lake is given to the tribal people and the forest department had given direction that fishing should not be done in the boat landing area, in the channels through which the boats pass through and in the Navikkayam area which is known for the diversity of fish wealth including rare species.
With the water receding in the lake, instances of unauthorized fishing have been noticed and the forest department officials seized the nets and fishing equipment from the boat landing area recently. He said that no action was taken against the culprits, but they were warned and let off.
The Periyar Tiger Reserve, in which the Mullaperiyar lake is situated, is conserving the forest and its biodiversity in plants and animals with participation of the public.
The official said that it has been found that unauthorized fishing will result in depleting the rare species and it was also a reason for imposing the ban strictly.
