MANGALORE Fishermen in the State have expressed dismay over the State Government's decision to ban shark fishing as over 2,000 fishermen in the three coastal districts will lose their livelihood.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, U.K. Niyaz, President of the Shark Fishermen's Association, noted that shark fishing had not been banned by the Union Government as sharks had not been included in the list of endangered species. But the State Government had gone ahead and imposed a ban, despite the fact that the Union Ministry of Environment and Ecology had de-listed shark fishing in 2001 from the "banned fishing" category, he said.

Mr. Niyaz said that when approached, the State Government had given "evasive" answers by stating that fishermen from other States had created problems and violated the ban imposed by the Government. He pointed out that shark fishing was usually done in "kaala pani" (deep sea), about 120 nautical miles off the coast, which came under the Union Government's control, and the State Government's ban did not apply. But the officials concerned were booking fishermen indulging in shark fishing at the landing centres, he said. In one or two instances, some fishermen had been arrested for consuming shark meat at home, he claimed.

He said a rally would be taken out on March 29 and a dharna would be staged if the State Government did not lift the ban by then.

Mr. Niyaz noted that considerable business was being lost due to the "artificial ban" on shark fishing. The Indian shark was a delicacy in the South-East Asian countries, and its fins, which were used to make soup, had a huge demand. Each shark fishing expedition cost about Rs. 40,000. But due to the "unofficial ban" on shark fishing, the fishermen were now wary of going on expeditions, he said.

Meanwhile, an association of deep sea fishermen has, in a report, made out a strong case for lifting the ban on shark fishing in the State.

Among the 19 landing centres for shark along the west coast, three centres — Mangalore, Malpe and Gangolli — are in Karnataka. They are considered strategic due to their proximity to the processing centres.

The 16 other centres are situated in Tamil Nadu (Kanyakumari), Kerala (Vizhinjam, Kollam, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasargod), Goa (Panaji), Maharashtra (Rathnagiri, Vijayadurga, Alibagh, and Mumbai), and Gujarat (Veraval, Porbander, Dwaraka, and Okha). Except Karnataka, all other States permit shark fishing and 90 per cent of the fishermen in Gujarat depend on it, the report says. The catch these landing centres handle on an average is 400 tonnes a day.

According to the Department of Agriculture, shark fishing is not "environmentally hazardous but economically beneficial" for the country. Different species of shark provide good meat and there is no wastage as all parts of the fish are consumed.

The Marine Produce Export Development Authority also recognises the importance of shark in the export of Indian fishery products.

TROUBLED

WATERS

Ban to hit 2,000 fishermen

Sharks not among

endangered species

No ban in other States on shark fishing

Move illegal, say

fishermen

Exports to be affected