Purse Seine Fishing:
Certain coastal states had imposed a ban on purse seine fishing. But the central government has criticized the move and said it is unjustified.
- A purse seine is made of a long wall of netting framed with floating and leadline and having purse rings hanging from the lower edge of the gear, through which runs a purse line made from steel wire or rope which allows the pursing of the net.
- Purse-seine fishing in open water is generally considered to be an efficient form of fishing
- It has no contact with the seabed and can have low levels of bycatch (accidental catch of unwanted species)
- Purse seines can also be used to catch fish congregating around fish aggregating devices
- This mode of fishing has not resulted in any serious resource depletion so far, given the available evidence”.
- Purse-Seine fishing is known to harm endangered species. As this mode of fishing uses a wide net to draw in not only targeted fish but also at risk varieties, including turtles.
- Expert panel recommended purse seiners fish in territorial waters and the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) subject to certain conditions.
