Last year, India’s long coastline yielded an estimated 3.57 million tonnes of marine fish, brought ashore by lakhs of fishermen, a 3% increase from 3.47 million tonnes in 2024. But this fishing is not done mindlessly. Every year, fishermen wait for 61 days to protect fish during peak spawning season, allowing fish populations to breed. Along the East Coast, from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu, fishing is suspended from April 15 to June 16, while the West Coast observes the ban from June 1 to July 31. This uniform ban was implemented based on the recommendation of experts, in consultation with coastal States and Union Territories. During this period, fishermen spend their days watching the sea, chatting about fish and the winds, repairing boats, and removing molluscs from hulls. In some States, non-mechanised crafts are allowed to fish close to shore; in others, such as Andhra Pradesh, all fishing activity is banned. Fish from other coasts are usually transported to regions under the ban. Even as the annual ban remains in force along the Visakhapatnam coast, a small section of fishermen has found ways to sustain their livelihoods within the permitted limits. The ban restricts deep-sea fishing by mechanised and motorised boats. In the coastal city of Visakhapatnam, it is a crucial conservation measure, but one that leaves thousands of fishing families without regular income for weeks. Some, however, are making the most of the limited relaxation that allows them to venture only a short distance into the sea. Near the Dolphin Nose area, fishermen begin their day by sourcing small fish from boats operating close to shore. These are used as bait as they cautiously move further inside the water, staying within the officially permitted range. This technique has yielded surprising results for the fishermen for the past few days. Fishermen report catching high-value species such as ’ Kommu Konam ’ and a few others, with each fish fetching up to ₹25,000 in the market. For many, what is typically a difficult period has become an opportunity to earn a decent income
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Waiting tides: Traditional catamarans line the Bay of Bengal coast, venturing out in the absence of trawlers, as small-scale fishermen continue to rely on nearshore waters during the ban.
Scarce catch: Fish prices have surged during the 61-day annual ban, as limited nearshore catch by country boats struggles to meet demand after mampanised vessels were taken off the waters.
Shallow hopes: Off Kasimedu fishing harbour in Chennai, small-boat fishermen continue to fish in shallow waters, sustaining livelihoods despite restrictions on larger fishing vessels.
Waiting tides: Traditional catamarans line the Bay of Bengal coast, venturing out in the absence of trawlers, as small-scale fishermen continue to rely on nearshore waters during the ban.
Idle fleet: Mechanised boats lie idle along the shore at Jalaripeta Fishing Colony
