Traditional fisherfolk organisations along the Karnataka coast have submitted a memorandum to the state fisheries department requesting an extension of the annual trawling ban from its current 61-day period to 90 days, arguing that the existing moratorium is insufficient to allow breeding fish populations to recover.

The moratorium, which applies to mechanised trawlers, runs from 15 June to 14 August in Karnataka. Traditional fishing using smaller craft continues during this period.

The Decline

Representatives of the Karnataka Fisherworkers’ Federation presented data compiled from landing centre records showing that average catch per vessel at Mangaluru, Malpe, Karwar, and Bhatkal has declined by approximately 35% over the past decade.

Specific species of concern include the Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta), Bombay duck (Harpadon nehereus), and ribbonfish — all of which form the backbone of both commercial catches and coastal diets.

“Twenty years ago, a trawl trip of two days brought 8–10 tonnes. Now we are lucky to get 3–4 tonnes on the same routes,” said a trawler owner at the Mangaluru Fish Landing Centre.

Competing Interests

The Karnataka Trawl Boat Operators’ Association opposes the extension, arguing that a longer ban will cause severe financial hardship to boat owners and the several thousand workers employed on trawlers. The current 61-day ban already costs the sector an estimated ₹400 crore in lost revenue annually.

The association has instead proposed strengthening enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing — particularly by vessels from other states — as a more targeted intervention.

State Response

The fisheries department has said it will constitute a scientific committee to review the moratorium period, carrying out fresh stock assessments before any policy change. A decision is expected before the 2026 monsoon season.

Marine biologists from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have previously recommended a 90-day moratorium aligned with Tamil Nadu and Kerala, which already observe longer bans.