The Maharashtra government and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) came up with the idea of square mesh nets instead of traditional diamond mesh nets to prevent damage to the ecosystem and to make fishing sustainable. On an average catch of 18 kilogram, it is estimated that the square mesh nets allow over three kilogram of juvenile fish to escape, making marine fishing sustainable. For 50-year-old Shelestian Fernandes from Malvan — who has been a fisherman for over two decades — the square mesh nets do more than saving baby fish. Encouraged by the results, about 317 trawlers in the area have adopted the square mesh nets. Recently, Maharashtra’s fisheries department issued an order proposing the mandatory use of square mesh nets for about 17,000 trawlers in the region.

Source: Hindustan Times April 08, 2017 18:33 UTC