Wildlife Body Seeks Breeding Season Ban On River Fishing

Recently, the Wildlife Society of Orissa has demanded a ban on fishing of fresh water fishes in the rivers and natural lakes of the state, during the breeding season.

Mr. Biswajit Mohanty, the secretary of the Wildlife Society of Orissa has informed that the state already has a ban on fishing in the sea and reservoirs from April 15 to June 15. But, this is not at all sufficient to protect the population of fresh water fishes. He moreover added that in the recent past state has lost a large number of fresh water fishes. So, to safeguard the life of the fresh water fishes like Hilsa. Rohu and many more, it is necessary to prohibit the fishing during the breeding season.

Mr. Mohanty has informed that for the last ten years, they had been protesting against the unregulated fishing and demanding a ban during the breeding season. He said that migratory fishes like Hilsa travels long distances through the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha during their breeding season are now at the threshold of extinction due to unregulated fishing. Even the mullets (khainga) which migrate to the sea for spawning are also becoming rare.

Mohanty said that the local fishermen applies the nets at the mouth of the river. So that they can prevented the Gravid or egg bearing fishes from crossing the river mouths and sell them. Due to this act of the fishermen, migration of Hilsa fish in Mahanadi river has drastically reduced in the last six years. This crisis of Hilsa fish has increased the price in the state. At present, Andhra Pradesh is exporting 60,000 tonnes of fresh water fishes to the state, to meet the ever rising local demands.

Mohanty mentioned that “At present, fish markets of the state are full of gravid fish and prawns. Almost all fresh water fishes like rohu, mrigal, cat fish etc, are full of eggs which in normal course would have hatched and replenished wild fish populations,”

He suggested that the State Government should impose a two month long ban from June 15 to August 15. It would do wonders in safeguarding and increasing the population of the fresh water fishes in the rivers as they are the critical ground for breeding. He said that the Orissa Government should follow the foot steps of the Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala government who has already banned fishing of fresh water fishes in rivers during breding season. This ban has helped to protect the fishes from extinction in these states.

It is assumed that this ban will enable the Orissa Government to reduce the import of Hilsa and other fresh water fishes from nearby West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.

However, the director of state fisheries department Mr. Bishnupada Sethi said that such a ban requires legislation as well as understandings at various levels. Especially the fishermen communities need to understand the importance of such a step.