Marine Enforcement squads to crack down on use of banned pelagic nets off Kozhikode coast

Depletion of fisheries resources, fall in active fishing days reportedly pushing workers to resort to the practice

Noticing suspicious attempts on the part of some fishing boat operators to use banned pelagic nets, the Marine Enforcement squads have resumed surprise inspections in fishing boats off the Kozhikode coast. Though the illegal practice was not reported for several months, the depletion of fisheries resources and the fall in active fishing days were reportedly prompting many workers to resort to it. Officials with the Marine Enforcement squad said they had seized such stocks from a fishing boat in Beypore. The owner of the boat has been charged under the Kerala Marine Fishing Regulation Act. There would be flash inspections covering various harbours to discourage the practice and to make fishermen aware of the danger it poses to fisheries resources, they added.