Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department told the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that directions and awareness were being given to fishermen regarding the use of eco-friendly materials.
Announcements were made in fishing villages instructing them not to use banned fishing materials not just for squid farming but for any kind of fishing method and that action would be initiated against the violators, it was submitted.
Taking note of the submission, a Division Bench of Justices Anita Sumanth and C. Kumarappan disposed of the public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to authorities to prevent ocean pollution by restraining fishermen from using plastic materials under the guise of squid farming.
The petitioner, S. Lenin, president of Kanniyakumari District Meen Thozhilalar Sangam, complained about the various methods being adopted by fishermen in the name of squid farming.
He said the squid season was from August to October. The fishermen were adopting artificial breeding methods, and to set up a hatchery plastic bottles, sand-filled plastic bags and other materials were used. This caused a threat to marine life. Plastic debris affected the ecosystem.
