Description

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Context

Indian 7,500 km coastline is facing ecological & socio-economic challenges due to continued practice of light fishing which is banned in EEZ but remains prevalent in several states.

Key Highlights

What is Light Fishing?

Light fishing involves using high powered artificial lights to attract fish & squid to surface making them easier to catch.

It is commonly used for catching small pelagic fish (sardines, anchovies & mackerel) & squid.

Ban on Light Fishing in India

2017 Light fishing was banned in Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to curb ecological damage & overfishing.

State-Level Loopholes Some states (Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh) have partial or no bans on light fishing in territorial waters.

Weak Enforcement Despite ban illegal light fishing continues due to limited monitoring & weak penalties.

Ecological Impact

Overfishing Attracts excessive fish including juveniles leading to rapid depletion of fish stocks.

Disrupts Marine Food Chain Removal of large quantities of fish & squid affects survival of predator species.

Juvenile Fish Depletion Light fishing leads to premature fish catch harming population regeneration.

Coral Reef Damage Overfishing around reefs affects biodiversity & ecosystem balance.

Socio-Economic Impact

Conflict Between Traditional & Mechanized Fishers Small scale fishers using traditional methods face declining catches due to competition from mechanized boats using high powered lights.

Economic Losses for Small Fishers Traditional fishers who depend on sustainable fishing practices struggle to compete with industrial trawlers.

Rise in Fishmeal Industry Demand Juvenile fish caught through light fishing are often diverted to fishmeal industry fueling practice further.

Regional Variations in Ban & Enforcement

State	Ban Status	Enforcement Challenges
Gujarat	Recently imposed a ban	Needs stricter monitoring to prevent violations.
Maharashtra	No total ban in territorial waters	Weak enforcement; focus is on trawling instead.
Tamil Nadu	Partial restrictions	Loopholes allow continued practice.
Andhra Pradesh	No complete ban	Small fishers report heavy losses.
Kerala	State-level ban exists	Illegal LED equipped boats still operate due to lax enforcement.
Karnataka, Goa, Kerala	Attempted collaboration with Coastal Police & Coast Guard	Coastal Security Police lack capability to patrol beyond 5 nautical miles.

Role of Authorities & Policy Gaps

Coast Guard & Navy Have national security priorities making regular monitoring of illegal light fishing difficult.

Coastal Security Police Limited resources prevent them from patrolling beyond 5 nautical miles where most light fishing occurs.

Local Fishers Associations Raising concerns but lack authority to enforce bans.

Global Best Practices

EU, Japan, Italy, Croatia Strict regulation & monitoring of light fishing to prevent ecological damage.

Sustainable Fishing Policies Countries implement seasonal bans, technology restrictions & alternative fishing methods to balance conservation & economy.

Potential Solutions for India

Nationwide Ban with Strict Enforcement Uniform policy across all states to eliminate loopholes.

Stronger Penalties Current fines (₹16,000 per violation) are too low; need higher penalties to act as deterrents.

Alternative Livelihood Support Government support for fishers transitioning away from light fishing.

Improved Coastal Patrols Better coordination between Coast Guard, Marine Police & Fisheries Departments.

Fisher Education Programs Raising awareness about long term damage of light fishing.

Link to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 14 (Life Below Water) Calls for marine conservation & sustainable fishing practices to protect ocean resources.

SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth) Protects livelihoods of traditional fishers from unfair industrial competition.

Indian Exclusive Economic Zone

Parameter	Details
Definition	EEZ is sea zone extending up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from Indian coast where India has special rights for exploration, conservation & resource utilization under United Nations Convention on Law of Sea (UNCLOS).
Total Area	2.37 million sq. km (including islands) almost two-thirds of India's land area.
Extent	West Arabian Sea East Bay of Bengal South Indian Ocean Includes Lakshadweep & Andaman & Nicobar Islands surrounding waters.
Legal Framework	Maritime Zones of India Act, 1976 defines Indian EEZ rights. UNCLOS (1982) Recognizes Indian sovereignty over its EEZ for marine resource exploitation.
Resource Potential	Living Resources Fish stocks (tuna, mackerel, shrimp, squid, etc.), coral reefs, deep sea biodiversity. Non Living Resources Oil, natural gas, polymetallic nodules, methane hydrates. Renewable Resources Offshore wind energy, wave energy.
Economic Importance	Contributes significantly to Indian fishing industry, oil & gas exploration, shipping & marine trade. Estimated hydrocarbon reserves Over 500 million metric tonnes of oil & gas.
Strategic Importance	Indian EEZ provides maritime security & control over crucial sea lanes of communication (SLOCs). Naval surveillance & Coast Guard operations are crucial to counter illegal fishing, piracy & smuggling.
Marine Biodiversity Hotspots	Western EEZ (Arabian Sea) High fish productivity, deep sea coral reefs. Eastern EEZ (Bay of Bengal) Mangroves, estuaries & nesting grounds for marine turtles. Southern EEZ (Indian Ocean) Rich in deep sea organisms, seamounts & hydrothermal vents.
Challenges	Illegal, Unreported & Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Foreign & domestic vessels violating fishing laws. Overexploitation of Resources Depleting fish stocks due to unregulated trawling & light fishing. Environmental Degradation Oil spills, marine pollution, habitat destruction. Security Threats Piracy, drug trafficking & Chinese naval presence in Indian Ocean.
Recent Developments	Sagarmala Programme Focus on coastal infrastructure, ports & blue economy development. Deep Ocean Mission (2021) Aimed at polymetallic nodule extraction & deep-sea exploration. Indian Deep-Sea Fishing Policy Promotes sustainable deep-sea fisheries while regulating mechanized trawling.
Global Comparisons	Indian EEZ is 18th largest in world. Smaller than EEZs of USA, Australia & Indonesia but larger than those of many European nations.
Future Prospects	Expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs) for biodiversity conservation. Development of offshore wind farms for renewable energy. Stronger enforcement mechanisms to combat illegal activities & ensure sustainable resource use.

For more information, please refer to IAS GYAN

Sources:

DOWN TO EARTH

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Indian EEZ is rich in marine resources but faces multiple challenges including illegal fishing & environmental degradation. Critically analyze steps taken by government to address these challenges.