The Hon. Ramalingam Chandrasekar

¶ 01 This is a pertinent question. Shore seine fishers recently discussed this with the Hon. President and held prolonged protests. About six months ago, we met them and discussed the environmental impacts of winches and detectors. We then granted a six-month grace period to find alternatives, after which the ban was imposed. A court case has also been filed.

¶ 02 We have now commenced consultations with five representatives of shore seine fishers together with technical experts to study whether winches, detectors, or neither should be permitted, and to assess impacts on beaches, crabs, turtles and turtle eggs. In two months, after consulting the President, we will provide a durable, permanent solution. Until then, the ban remains. Shore seine is a traditional fishery; we ask fishers to continue hand-hauling the nets for now, and we will then consider whether technology should be allowed.