Andhra set to observe ban on marine fishing from midnight of April 14

Strong support from the fisherfolk helps for a safe breeding of marine fish species on the 975-km coastline

The 61-day annual fishing ban in the Bay of Bengal will come into force from the midnight of April 14 on the 975-km coastline in Andhra Pradesh State.  

Blessed with country’s second longest coastline, the Andhra Pradesh State has succeeded in implementing the annual fishing ban on the East Coast, enabling a safe breeding period for the marine fish species. 

The State government offers Rs.10,000 financial aid compensating the loss of livelihood for every individual who depends on the marine fishing and loses the livelihood during the ban period. 

A district-level survey is commenced along the coastline to identify the affected people to release the aid to manage the ban period. 

Kakinada coast: “Nearly 24,000 people depending on the marine fishing activity are expected to lose their livelihood on the Kakinada coast”, said Fisheries Department Deputy Director (Kakinada) P.V.Satyanarayana. The Kakinada coast comprises of two districts - Kakinada and Konaseema - which have above 150-km coastline. 

In Kakinada district alone, above 4,400 fishing boats including mechanized and traditional boats would be anchored from the midnight of April 14 and nearly 16,000 individuals would lose the livelihood. 

Realizing the importance of a safe breeding of the marine fish species, the fisherfolk community strictly observes the fishing ban on the Andhra coast. Violation of the fishing ban guidelines is a rarest of the rare on the Andhra coast as no boat operator desires to fish against the ban guidelines.