Supreme Court agrees to hear fishermen’s plea challenging Tamil Nadu government ban on purse seine fishing

Supreme Court to hear fishermen's plea challenging Tamil Nadu ban on purse seine fishing, citing Central government report.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear fishermen’s plea challenging Tamil Nadu government ban on purse seine fishing.

The petitioners said a Central government report had found no fault with this mode of fishing.

The Supreme Court, in a 2023 judgment, had also allowed purse seine fishing outside the territorial waters of Tamil Nadu. The apex court had imposed stringent conditions to regulate the extent of purse seine fishing outside the 12-nautical-mile limit off Tamil Nadu.

Appearing before a Bench headed by Justice AS Oka, the petitioners, represented by senior advocate K. Parameshwar and advocate Jaya Sukin, said local fishermen travel in and out of territorial waters while fishing.

Justice Oka said the designated authority would have to go through the report if it was in favour of purse seine fishing.

Mr. Parameshwar argued that Tamil Nadu cannot impose a ban as fisheries did not come under the State government.

Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde said the State had authority to ban purse seine fishing within its territorial waters. The State government had banned this form of fishing on the ground that it was harmful to marine life.