Summary:
The department of fisheries has formulated a new set of rules to strictly control destructive fishing practices, including regulations on light fishing, a widely followed method for fishing in the state. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Light fishing in territorial waters (within 12 nautical miles from the coast) using lights with power above 12 watts will soon be a punishable offence in the state. “Usually smaller fishes which are preys to larger ones get attracted to light first and larger fishes follow smaller fishes and the fishermen catch the entire stock,” an official said. The rules have been formulated based on Kerala Marine Fishing Regulation Act (KMFRA) 2017. T Peter , president of the Kerala Swatantra Malsyathozhilali Federation , while welcoming new rules, said that success of such measures depend on enforcement..