A ban on shark fishing in India has been partly lifted. Flouting the ban could have led to a five year jail term and fines of up to £344. But thousands of fishermen on India's east and west coasts protested saying their livelihoods were under threat. The ban on fishing for 54 varieties of shark was included in a list of 600 marine species including sea cucumbers and Javanese Cow Rays. That has been reduced to nine and the list of restricted shellfish has fallen from 18 to 15. Officials from the southern Tamil Nadu state say at least 50,000 fishermen along the east coast survive on marine fishing and 200,000 people are employed in associated activities. According to the Fishery Survey of India, the annual value of marine exports from the special economic zone along Tamil Nadu's coast is about Rupees 10 billion (£144m) and more than half a million tonnes are harvested from the region. Shark cartilage is now exported to Europe and the US. Shark liver oil is also used. Fishermen's Advisory Board member PG Sekar welcomed the relaxation of the ban, saying many families relied on the sea. Tamil Nadu state Chief Minister O Pannerselvam told the Indo Asian News Service: "Research organisations are in favour of periodic harvesting of sharks from the eastern seas of India. Controlled harvesting helps maintain an ecological balance.