more-in MADURAI A public interest litigation petition filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday said that the use of gill and drift nets in coastal regions for fishing posed a serious threat to marine life. The petitioner, P.C. Amudhan of Dhanushkodi Parambariya Meenavar Nala Sangam of Ramanathapuram, said the use of gill and drift nets for fishing posed a threat to rare and endangered species of marine mammals, sea birds and turtles and amounted to destructive fishing practice. He complained that trawlers used these nets extensively. The nets touched the sea bed resulting in the dragging of sea life into them. The by-catches included sea life like starfish and sponges, which were not intended for the catch, he said. A government order issued in 2000 by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries had prohibited the use of pair trawling by any fishing vessel, country craft or mechanised boats, irrespective of the size and power of the engine. Pointing to the other major problem caused by these nets, he said they could snap while coming in contact with sea bed. The loose nets either remained in the ocean bed or floated on the surface. Sea mammals and sea birds could get entangled in these ‘ghost nets’ and perish, he said. These nets restricted the movement, caused starvation, laceration, infection and finally suffocation resulting in the death of sea lives. The petitioner complained that a large number of fisherfolk, who were actively involved in fishing on the high seas, possessed these nets. Though he had brought this to the notice of the respondents, no action was taken, he said. He sought a direction against the use of these nets in the State. Taking up the plea for hearing, a Division Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Sathish Kumar directed the counsel for the State to get instructions and posted the case for further hearing.

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