Sri Vijaya Puram, 21 May: The Fisheries Department has reissued a public advisory warning fishers, traders, and boat operators to strictly avoid casting nets or engaging in any form of fishing activity in three categories of restricted maritime zones around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These include areas falling within official port limits as defined under the Indian Ports Act, 1908; sea zones reserved for aboriginal tribes under the 1956 Tribal Protection Regulation; and marine stretches designated as protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
According to department sources, patrol teams have observed sporadic violations, especially in waters adjacent to tribal territories and ecologically sensitive turtle-nesting reefs. While “innocent passage” through such waters remains permissible, officials clarified that any active fishing within these zones would invite penal action under the Marine Fishing Rules, 2004, and its subsequent amendments. The department has advised all boat captains to verify GPS coordinates before deploying gear and has also cautioned buyers that fish caught illegally in these zones may be confiscated upon landing.
To strengthen enforcement during the upcoming monsoon period, typically a peak fishing season, the department will rely on Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking, sea patrols, and unannounced dockside inspections. Public messaging through harbour-office posters and community radio broadcasts has also been stepped up.
Authorities emphasised that the purpose of the renewed advisory is to protect fragile marine ecosystems, safeguard port operations, and uphold the legal rights of indigenous tribes. Fishers have been reminded that long-term sustainability begins with respecting “no-take” zones, and that repeat violations could lead to gear seizure, suspension of licences, and prosecution.
