The Madras High Court has directed the Union government authorities to pass orders on a plea seeking to revoke the ban on fishing and trading of sea cucumber.
Justice R Subbaiah, before whom the petition filed by Nagai Seafoods Catching Association came up, insisted that the concerned authorities including Union Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Fisheries offer a personal hearing and pass suitable orders on the representation within a period of three months.
The matter relates to the ban imposed in 2000 by the Centre on fishing and trade in sea cucumber. The petitioner argued that the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), which was commissioned to undertake studies on assessment of sea cucumber in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar, had imposed a ban only on trawl fishing.
The petitioner also submitted that the failure of the government in not responding to ZSI’s recommendations has affected not only the livelihood of numerous fishermen families but also the marine ecosystem.
The petitioner claimed that countries like Japan are conserving sea cucumber population by scientific practices.
Justice R Subbaiah, before whom the petition filed by Nagai Seafoods Catching Association came up, insisted that the concerned authorities including Union Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Fisheries offer a personal hearing and pass suitable orders on the representation within a period of three months.
The matter relates to the ban imposed in 2000 by the Centre on fishing and trade in sea cucumber. The petitioner argued that the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), which was commissioned to undertake studies on assessment of sea cucumber in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar, had imposed a ban only on trawl fishing.
The petitioner also submitted that the failure of the government in not responding to ZSI’s recommendations has affected not only the livelihood of numerous fishermen families but also the marine ecosystem.
The petitioner claimed that countries like Japan are conserving sea cucumber population by scientific practices.