Maharashtra Fisheries Department Cracks Down On Illegal Fishing Of Juvenile Pomfret In Palghar

Palghar: Taking cognizance of recent news reports highlighting the rampant fishing and sale of undersized juvenile pomfret along the western coastline, the Maharashtra Fisheries Department has initiated a crackdown on the illegal practice. Within two days, punitive action has been proposed against two fishing boats in the Vasai taluka. The department also plans to launch an awareness campaign among consumers about the illegality of purchasing immature fish.

This action follows the state government's decision to grant the pomfret the status of a state fish. Based on the recommendations of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Mumbai, the government had issued an order on November 2, 2023, specifying the minimum legal size for 54 fish species, including the pomfret. The order prohibits the catching of immature fish below these specified sizes. While awareness campaigns regarding this order were conducted, enforcement against violators in the Palghar and Thane districts had been lacking until now.

Following reports in Free Press Journal and other newspapers about the endangered status of the state fish pomfret due to the catching of juveniles, Fisheries Commissioner Kishor Tawde instructed the concerned Joint Commissioners of the Fisheries Department to take action. It had come to light that thousands of pomfret juveniles, weighing between 25 to 30 grams and measuring 50 to 60 millimeters in length, were being caught and sold at ports along the western coast.

In response, a team comprising of Mahesh Devre, Chairman of the Independent Implementation Cell and Joint Commissioner of Fisheries (Marine); Nagnath Bhadule, Member Secretary of the Regional Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries, Mumbai Division; Dinesh Patil, Assistant Commissioner of Fisheries, Thane-Palghar; Hemant Kore, Fisheries Development Officer, Thane-Palghar; Vinod Lahare, Licensing Officer, Vasai; and Pawan Kale, Licensing Officer, Uttan, conducted boat inspections in the Vasai and Uttan areas on April 2 using patrol boats.

Joint action was taken under the Maharashtra Marine Fishing Regulation Act against boats found catching undersized Silver Pomfret. During this operation, two boats in the Vasai region were found to have caught juvenile and undersized fish, and charges have been filed against them.

“Punitive action, including fines, will be taken against the owners of both fishing boats after hearing their side,” Patil stated.

Meanwhile, Fisheries Commissioner Kishor Tawde informed that along with creating awareness among fishermen's cooperative societies against catching undersized fish, boards displaying the mature size and weight of various fish species will be installed in major markets. He further stated that in the subsequent phase, action will also be taken against traders and consumers found purchasing immature fish below the legal size from the boats.