Fishermen concerned over unscientific fishing methods

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 3, 2016: Fishermen of the coast have expressed concern over use of banned methods for fishing cuttlefish in the region.The methods, that have been regarded unscientific by Fisheries department officials, have been feared to have become widespread in the region.

The practice which was common in Chervathooru, Madakkara, Kavunthala and other places particularly in Kerala,  is said to have spread to nearby places.

The use of coconut flower stacks, plastic bottles and wires as fish aggregating devices to attract fish has been considered unscientific. However, coconut spadix is popular to catch cuttlefish is becoming popular among the fishermen in the region. Each module of such device may consist of 100 coconut spadix tied to a nylon rope.

These devices are used to form an artificial reef structure to attract cuttlefish. With the increase in unscientific methods resorted by the fishing boats, the fishery resource has recorded a decline with eggs entering the fish aggregating device and falling prey to the nets.