Trade-off between monsoon trawl ban and the livelihood of trawl labourers in Maharashtra

Abstract

Indian fisheries sector in view of its potential contribution to national income, nutritional security, employment opportunities,
social objectives and export earnings, plays an important role in the socio-economic development of the country. Fisheries
sector contributes 4.3 % to the agricultural GDP and export earnings are presently valued at over Rs. 6,800 crores from a
volume of 4.6 lakh tonnes. In addition, it provides direct and indirect employment and dependency for over seven million
people in the country. With an estimated production potential of 8.4 million tonnes, the present level of production in the
country is 5.9 million tonnes with almost equal contribution from both the marine and inland fisheries. The estimated fisheries
potential from Indian Exclusive Economic Zone was found to be 3.9 million tonnes. But inspite of the increased efforts in
fish production, the catch stagnated around 2.9 million tonnes. The stagnation in catches mainly due to the overexploitation
of dwindling marine resources forced the government to impart some management measures to regulate the fishery and for
the sustenance of the marine resources. The monsoon trawl ban in fisheries was one of the major reforms, which had created
a substantial increase in fish production in the past few years. The ban on trawling during monsoon season was introduced in
Maharashtra, after a series of studies, from 1992 for a period of 65 days form June 10 to August 15 (or Naralipoornima
whichever is earlier). A notable increase in production from the marine sector of the country occurred in the post-ban period.
Nevertheless, it had created problems in employment, poverty and income distribution of fishermen during ban period and
was always a matter of unrest among mechanized and traditional sector of fishing. The aim of this study is to understand the
impact of ban on monsoon trawling in employment pattern, poverty and income distribution of fishermen along the western
coast of Maharashtra. The study was conducted at Versova fishing village, Mumbai and provides reflections on the possible
impact of monsoon ban on the livelihood and standard of living of the fishermen in the state.