The Congress has questioned the last-minute announcement delaying the start of the fishing season in Gujarat, the fishermen who were seeking to set off on August 1 are worried about losing profits, and the BJP government in the state is in no mood to reverse its decision.
The politics being waged over the issue notwithstanding, experts are clear that the move is in the best interest of the fish, and the fishermen.
It was on July 31 evening, with just hours to go for the start of the new fishing season in Gujarat – with harbours abuzz and fishermen wrapping up loading of rations, drinking water, ice, diesel etc – that the Gujarat government notification came announcing that the fishing season would start from August 16 and not August 1.
Every year, there is a 61-day no-fishing period imposed by the Central government along the west coast, starting June 1 and ending July 31.
Gujarat’s extension of the ban means that fishermen in states like Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, as well as the Union territory of Diu and Daman, would have set out on August 1 to fish in India’s exclusive economic zone skirting Gujarat’s coast, while their counterparts in the state – which is the largest marine fish supplier in India – will remain confined to harbours along the state’s 1,600-km-long coastline.
On August 3, Gujarat Congress chief Shaktisinh Gohil called the announcement by the state government at 7 pm on July 31, just five hours ahead of the start of the fishing season, as “ayogya… avichari (inappropriate, ill-planned)”.
“Under the impression that the fishing season will start the next day… fishermen had loaded diesel, ice, and ration on their boats. This can’t be offloaded now and will go waste… Directly and indirectly, five lakh people will remain unemployed for 15 days… Who will be responsible if fishermen from other states fish in Gujarat waters?” Gohil posted on social media, demanding that the state government roll back its decision.
Pointing out that a fishing trawler owner spends around Rs 3 lakh purchasing diesel, ration, ice and for the salary of the crew per fishing trip, Abdullasha Pirzada, president of the Jakhau Bandar Fishermen and Boat Association, said: “Fishing is the only means of livelihood for traditional fishermen in Gujarat, and a change in the start of the season affects them. Despite that, we have no problem with the government extending the no-fishing period. But such announcements should be made in advance.”
Pirzada’s remarks reflect the reality of the delay actually being beneficial in the long run. Earlier this week, a group of around 40 fishermen leaders from across Gujarat met Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Raghavji Patel to thank them for their decision.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Raghavji Patel said: “Monsoon is the breeding season for fish and we need to allow fish stock enough time to mature in order to keep our resources sustainable. Thus, instead of two months, if fishing remains banned for 2.5 months, juvenile fish can grow, which will eventually benefit fishermen.”
Besides this, Raghavji said, under the influence of the south-west monsoon, sea waters remain rough till August 15, which means that fishermen have to be called back to shore often. The south-west monsoon generally hits Gujarat mid-June and remains active till September, with July and August generally being the rainiest months.
According to the minister, “Ninety per cent of the fishermen in the state wanted the ban to be extended.”
About the last-minute announcement, Raghaviji said that Gujarat had made a representation to the Centre on July 24 to extend the ban to August 15 along the entire west coast. “But we didn’t get any immediate response. At home, we were under immense pressure from fishermen to delay the season. So, eventually, we took the decision for the state of Gujarat.”
The minister also pointed out that before the Covid pandemic, the ban on the fishing season used to be till August 15. “All we are doing is returning to the old schedule.”
Damodar Chamudiya, chairman of the Mangrol Machhimar Sahkari Mandali, a fishermen’s cooperative society in Mangrol harbour, agreed that an extended ban was needed, and that August 16 used to be the norm for the start of the fishing season from the 1980s till 2020.
A scientist of the CMFRI also said that the delayed start bodes well. “September, October and November is the peak fishing season. An early start may result in the capture of juvenile fish, which may not have high market value. So delaying it by a couple of weeks can be beneficial to fishermen,” the scientist, who did not want to be identified, said, adding that the ideal starting date is actually the beginning of September but that might not be tenable due to the livelihoods involved.
Raghavji conceded that Gujarat fishermen might be at some disadvantage compared to their counterparts in other states. “But we don’t see a large impact. We have to keep the safety and long-term welfare of fishermen in mind.”
Velji Masani, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Fishermen Association, an all-India organisation for the welfare of fishermen, said they had been trying to persuade fishermen in other states on the west coast to delay the start of the fishing season. “We succeeded in Maharashtra and, barring two harbours, fishermen in others have not set sail so far.”
Largest marine fish producer
As per the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, a Central government establishment, 8.22 lakh tonnes (lt) of fish landed on Gujarat coast in 2023 – the highest in India. State government estimates put marine and in-land fish production in Gujarat in 2021-22 at 6.88 lt, worth Rs 11,221 crore. Of that, 2.28 lt was exported, fetching Rs 4,254 crore.
The state has around 30,000 active fishing boats.
Every year, there is a 61-day no-fishing period imposed by the Central government along the west coast, starting June 1 and ending July 31. (Express photo) 
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