Supreme Court has given permission for fishing, using Purse Seine Fishing gear, beyond territorial waters (12 nautical miles) and within EEZ (200 nautical miles) of Tamil Nadu with certain restrictions. Earlier this month, Tamil Nādu government banned the use of Purse Seine fishing gears.

Restrictions to follow:

• Two days of fishing allowed with Purse Seine Fishing gear: Monday and Thursday
• Time: 8am to 6pm

Concerns:

• Insufficient conservation efforts.
• Threat to livelihood of traditional fishers.
• Threat to food security.
• Threatens endangered species.

Insufficient conservation efforts:

• Order focused on administrative and transparency measures.
• UNCLOS obligations are not considered.
• Coastal states have their sovereign rights to ensure conservation.
• Total Allowable Catch (TAC) in EEZ is required to prevent overexploitation.
• Restricting fishing days not sufficient without regulating methods.

Threats to livelihood of traditional fishers:

• Purse seiners tend to overfish leaving traditional fishers using traditional fishing gears at risk.
• Non-targeted gear catches all sorts of fish, including juveniles which is detrimental for fish population.
• Detrimental to marine resources.

Threat to food security:

• Availability of oil sardines is dwindling.
• 2021 catch in Kerala: 3,297 tonnes. A sharp decrease from 3.9 lakh tonnes in 2012

Threatens endangered species:

• Non-selective fishing methods by purse seiners.
• By-catch of other marine living species, including endangered species.
• Potential trade embargo.

Purse seine fishing

Purse seine fishing is a popular fishing method, used for catching large numbers of fish in the open sea. It involves the use of a large net, known as a purse seine, which is used to encircle and trap schools of fish. The net is then pulled up, forming a purse or bag, and the fish are hauled aboard the fishing vessel.

This fishing technique has been in use for centuries and is highly efficient, allowing fishermen to catch large quantities of fish in a single haul. Purse seine fishing is commonly used for catching tuna, herring, salmon, and other species of fish.

The purse seine net is typically made of nylon or other synthetic materials, and can range in size from a few hundred meters to over a kilometer in length. The net is suspended from floats on the surface of the water and weighted down with lead weights, keeping it in place as the fishing vessel encircles the school of fish.

Once the fish are trapped in the purse seine, the net is drawn in and the fish are lifted aboard the vessel using a mechanical hoist or crane. The fish are then sorted and stored in refrigerated holds on the boat, ready for transport to shore.

Purse seine fishing is a controversial method, since it has negative impacts on the environment and other marine life. For example, dolphins and other marine mammals can become entangled in the nets and be killed or injured. The use of purse seine nets has also been linked to overfishing and depletion of fish stocks in some regions.

To address these concerns, some countries have implemented regulations to limit purse seine fishing or require the use of more sustainable practices. For example, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation has developed a program to certify sustainable purse seine tuna fishing practices.

To ensure the sustainability of fish stocks and protect other marine life, it is important for fishing communities to adopt more sustainable fishing practices and comply with regulations.