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{{Short description|Fishing ban in India}}
{{Orphan|date=October 2025}}

The '''Monsoon trawl ban''' is a regulatory measure implemented by the [[Indian government]] to protect marine biodiversity, conserve aquatic lives, and support sustainability of livelihood in coastal communities.<ref>{{cite report |author1=Mohamed, K.S. |author2=P. Puthra |author3=Sathianandan, T.V. |author4=Baiju, M.V. |author5=Sairabanu, K.A. |author6=Lethy, K.M. |author7=Sahadevan, P. |author8=Nair, Chandrasekharan |author9=Lailabeevi, M. |author10=Sivaprasad, P.S. |year=2014 |title=Report of the committee to evaluate fish wealth and impact of trawl ban along Kerala coast |institution=Department of Fisheries, Government of Kerala |pages=85}}</ref> Introduced in the 1980s, the ban restricts fishing activities during the [[Monsoon of South Asia]], coinciding with the breeding and [[spawning]] period of many [[Marine life|marine animals]]. With its extensive coastline of over 8,100 kilometres, India has made the [[monsoon]] trawling ban a critical strategy for [[sustainable fishery]] management.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Gunakar, S. |author2=Jadhav, A. |author3=Bhatta, R. |year=2017 |chapter=Protections for Small-Scale Fisheries in India: A Study of India's Monsoon Fishing Ban |editor1=Jentoft, S. |editor2=Chuenpagdee, R. |editor3=Barragán-Paladines, M. |editor4=Franz, N. |title=The Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines |series=MARE Publication Series |volume=MARE Publication Series, vol 14 |publisher=Springer, Cham |pages=197–211 |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-55074-9_14 |isbn=978-3-319-55073-2 }}</ref>

In 2015, the Government of India, for the first time, imposed a uniform fishing ban across all states from June 1 to July 31, restricting all fishing activities using motorised boats beyond 12 nautical miles away from the western coast.<ref>{{cite report |title=Discussion on the decision of the Central Government for total and uniform ban on fishing for 61 days |publisher=Indian Parliament, Lok Sabha |year=2015 |url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/750476/1/5543.pdf |access-date=2025-01-11}}</ref> However, states did not support the move, and many defied the ban since fishing is a subject that falls under the state's exclusive jurisdiction as per the Indian Constitution.<ref>{{cite news |author=Philip, Shaju |date=2015-06-02 |title=Kerala defies Centre's trawling ban, allows deep sea fishing |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/kerala-fishing-boat-owners-defy-govt-ban-venture-into-deep-sea-fishing/ |publisher=Indian Express |location=Thiruvananthapuram |access-date=2025-01-11 |quote=Kerala wanted the trawling ban be limited to 47 days, starting on June 14; a demand rejected by the centre.}}</ref>

==Background==

India's coastal regions have long depended on marine fishing, with artisanal fishing practices guided by ecological knowledge and traditional customs. However, the mechanisation of fisheries in the 1960s and 1970s led to [[overfishing]] and significant [[ecological degradation]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Balan, K. |author2=Pillai, N. G. |author3=Kurup, B. M. |year=2020 |title=Impact of Monsoon Trawling Ban on Marine Fish Landings in Kerala |journal=Journal of Marine Sciences |volume=45 |issue=3 |pages=321–335 }}</ref> The widespread adoption of [[trawling]] and large-scale [[fishing vessel]] intensified fishing pressures, depleting key [[fish stocks]] and damaging [[marine habitat]].

In response to these challenges, the [[Government of India]] began implementing seasonal fishing bans to allow fish populations to recover during critical breeding periods.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Salagrama, V. |year=2018 |title=Livelihood Impacts of Monsoon Fishing Bans on Indian Coastal Fishers |journal=Development Studies in Fisheries |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=87–101 }}</ref> The first formal monsoon trawling ban was introduced in the 1980s, with [[Kerala]] pioneering the initiative in 1988. Over time, other coastal states such as [[Karnataka]], Tamil Nadu, and [[Maharashtra]] followed suit, tailoring their bans to local ecological and socio-economic conditions.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Vivekanandan, E. |author2=Krishnakumar, P. K. |year=2019 |title=Seasonal Fishing Bans: A Conservation Strategy for Indian Marine Fisheries |journal=Journal of Environmental Management |volume=38 |issue=2 |pages=99–112 }}</ref>

==Objectives==

The objectives of the trawling ban are:

# [[Marine Conservation]]: Protecting spawning fish and juvenils during their breeding cycles to ensure stock replenishment.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Srinath, M. |author2=Khan, M. Z. |year=2019 |title=Monsoon Fishing Bans and Marine Resource Conservation in India |journal=Journal of Marine Policy |volume=44 |issue=1 |pages=51–66 }}</ref>
# [[Sustainable fishery]]: Stabilising fish stocks so that it can support the viability of fishing. By preventing overfishing during the breeding period, the ban help improve fish resource availability and safeguard the livelihoods of fisherfolk dependent on fishing.
# [[Ecosystem management]]: By stopping fishing by mechanised methods like trawling, which disrupts marine habitats, the ban helps preserve the seabed, coral reefs, and other underwater ecosystems essential for maintaining the productivity of marine life.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Thomas, B. |author2=Kumar, R. |year=2021 |title=Balancing conservation and livelihoods: A review of monsoon fishing bans in Karnataka |journal=Indian Fisheries Policy Journal |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=120–134}}</ref>

==Implementation and enforcement==

The [[monsoon]] trawling bans are state-specific, with varying durations and enforcement mechanisms. [[Kerala]] enforces a 52-day ban on mechanised trawling in the first half of June.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=George, G. |author2=Thomas, M. |author3=Menon, N. G. |year=2022 |title=Implementation and enforcement of monsoon fishing bans in India |journal=Coastal Management Journal |volume=48 |issue=4 |pages=279–295}}</ref> [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Karnataka]] implement bans lasting 45 to 61 days, adjusted to local ecological conditions.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=George, G. |author2=Thomas, M. |author3=Menon, N. G. |year=2022 |title=Implementation and enforcement of monsoon fishing bans in India |journal=Coastal Management Journal |volume=48 |issue=4 |pages=279–295}}</ref>

The bans primarily target mechanised trawlers, while [[artisanal fishing]] using traditional, less invasive methods are often granted limited access during the period. Enforcement includes coastal patrolling, monitoring by state fisheries departments, and collaboration with local [[fishermen]] communities. These efforts are aimed at ensuring compliance while addressing [[Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing]] practices.

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Fishing in India]]
[[Category:Nature conservation in India]]
[[Category:Environmental law in India]]
[[Category:Sustainable fishery]]

Monsoon trawl ban - Revision history

AnnettaCastanon: added entry