Fishery Crimes & Conservation Methods at Coastal & Inland Water Bodies in India

1. Overview of Fishery Crimes in India

India, with its vast coastline stretching over 7,500 kilometers and numerous inland water bodies like rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, is a powerhouse in global fisheries. However, the sector faces significant challenges from rampant fishery crimes that threaten both marine and inland aquatic ecosystems. The most prevalent forms of fishery crimes include illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, poaching by unauthorized vessels or individuals, overfishing beyond permissible limits, and frequent violations of licensing norms established by state fisheries departments.

IUU Fishing: A Persistent Menace

IUU fishing stands as the biggest challenge along Indias coasts—from Gujarat’s Gulf of Kutch to the Sundarbans of West Bengal. Fishermen often cross maritime boundaries into neighbouring waters or operate without valid permits. A notable case occurred off the Tamil Nadu coast where several trawlers were seized for fishing illegally in Sri Lankan waters, highlighting regional tensions and the need for strict monitoring.

Poaching & Encroachment

Poaching is rampant in both coastal zones and major river systems such as the Ganges and Brahmaputra. Unauthorized groups exploit protected fish species during breeding seasons or encroach upon reserved areas like the Chilika Lake in Odisha. These activities disrupt local biodiversity and undermine sustainable livelihoods of traditional fisherfolk.

Overfishing & Licensing Violations

Overfishing due to non-compliance with mesh size regulations or seasonal bans is another critical issue. In Kerala’s backwaters and Andhra Pradesh’s Godavari delta, reports frequently surface about excessive catches that deplete stocks of commercially important species like Hilsa and Indian Major Carps. Similarly, violation of licensing norms—such as operating without renewal or using banned gear—has led to multiple crackdowns by enforcement agencies across Maharashtra and Assam.

These multifaceted crimes reflect loopholes in enforcement, inadequate surveillance technology, and socio-economic pressures on local communities. Addressing these challenges demands a robust combination of legal deterrence, community engagement, and deployment of modern monitoring systems tailored to India’s unique aquatic landscapes.

Socio-economic Impact of Fishery Crimes

Fishery crimes in India, such as illegal fishing, poaching, and the use of banned gear, have a direct and profound impact on the socio-economic fabric of coastal and inland fisherfolk communities. These offences not only threaten the sustainability of aquatic resources but also jeopardise the livelihoods of millions who depend on traditional fishing for their daily sustenance. Small-scale fishers—often referred to locally as “machhuaars”—are among the worst affected. Their dependence on customary fishing grounds (locally known as “ghats” or “jalmarg”) makes them highly vulnerable to resource depletion caused by unlawful practices.

Disruption of Traditional Rights

The encroachment of large commercial trawlers and illegal operators into areas reserved for artisanal fishers undermines age-old customary rights, such as jal hak (water rights) and access to village-managed water bodies. When these rights are violated, disputes escalate within panchayats (local self-governance bodies), eroding community trust and social cohesion. The loss of access to productive fishing zones often forces families into debt cycles or migration, disrupting the generational transfer of indigenous knowledge.

Case Example: West Bengal Sundarbans

In the Sundarbans delta, rampant illegal crab collection by outside groups has led to severe depletion of stocks. This directly affects local “bheri” owners (brackish water fish farmers) and traditional gatherers, resulting in reduced incomes and food insecurity. Moreover, women’s self-help groups involved in post-harvest activities face shrinking opportunities due to declining catches.

Comparative Analysis: Impact Table

The ripple effects extend beyond immediate economic losses. Children from affected families may be forced to drop out from school to supplement household earnings by working as daily wage labourers (majdooris). Women, traditionally engaged in drying, sorting, and selling fish at local markets (“matsya bazaar”), experience increased financial vulnerability. Thus, tackling fishery crimes is not merely an environmental imperative but a critical aspect of safeguarding India’s rural livelihoods and preserving socio-cultural heritage.

3. Legal Framework and Enforcement Challenges

India’s fisheries sector operates under a robust legal framework designed to tackle fishery crimes and promote conservation across both coastal and inland water bodies. At the national level, the Marine Fisheries (Regulation) Act serves as a cornerstone, laying down rules for sustainable marine fishing, licensing of vessels, and prohibiting destructive practices such as dynamite or poison fishing. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, extends its reach to cover aquatic biodiversity—especially endangered freshwater species—by regulating trade, habitat protection, and penalising poaching activities. Supplementing these are state-specific fisheries acts, like the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act or the West Bengal Inland Fisheries Act, which address unique regional concerns and empower local authorities with enforcement powers.

Operational Complexities on Ground

Despite strong statutes on paper, enforcing these laws in India’s dynamic aquatic environments faces serious tactical challenges. Coastal policing is hampered by vast coastlines—over 7,500 km—dotted with thousands of villages where traditional fishers often lack awareness about legal restrictions or sustainable catch limits. Surveillance is further complicated by the use of small mechanised boats that can evade detection, and by porous borders in states such as Gujarat or West Bengal where cross-border illegal fishing is rampant.

Inland Waters: Diverse Jurisdictions and Limited Resources

Inland waters present their own logistical hurdles. Rivers, reservoirs, and lakes often crisscross multiple administrative boundaries, leading to confusion over jurisdiction between state departments. Many state fisheries departments operate with limited manpower and outdated equipment, making real-time patrolling of remote wetlands or river stretches nearly impossible. Poachers exploit these gaps, targeting high-value species like Mahseer or Hilsa during breeding seasons when enforcement presence is weakest.

The Need for Tech-Driven Solutions & Community Vigilance

Tactically, there is growing recognition of the need for modern surveillance tools—like GPS tracking for licensed boats, drone patrols over sensitive zones, and mobile apps for reporting suspicious activity—to supplement boots-on-ground policing. Equally crucial is engaging fisherfolk communities as frontline defenders; community-based monitoring groups in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh have shown that informed locals can act faster than distant officials when illegal gear or toxic chemicals are spotted. Without this two-pronged strategy of legal enforcement and grassroots vigilance, India’s battle against fishery crimes will remain an uphill contest.

4. Community-led Conservation Methods

When it comes to safeguarding Indias aquatic resources, community-led initiatives are playing a pivotal role in combating fishery crimes and promoting sustainable practices. Harnessing local wisdom and cultural ties, grassroots organisations have become the frontline defenders of both coastal and inland water bodies. These efforts not only deter illegal activities but also foster a sense of ownership among local stakeholders.

Community Vigilance Groups: The First Line of Defence

Across states like Kerala, West Bengal, and Odisha, community vigilance groups (CVGs) have been formed to monitor suspicious fishing activities, prevent overfishing, and report violations to authorities. These groups typically consist of local fishers and youth volunteers who patrol critical stretches during peak breeding seasons or when poaching risks are high. The impact is evident—fish populations have shown recovery trends in areas under vigilant community watch.

Self-Help Groups (SHGs): Women Leading the Charge

In many coastal villages of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, womens SHGs have emerged as powerful agents of change. By organising awareness campaigns, managing community hatcheries, and enforcing seasonal bans, these groups ensure the sustainability of fish stocks while empowering women economically and socially. Their hands-on approach extends to record-keeping and collaborating with government agencies for technical support and funding.

Panchayat Interventions: Decentralised Governance in Action

Panchayats, as the backbone of rural governance, play an instrumental role in enforcing conservation bylaws at the village level. Through participatory decision-making, they regulate fishing permits, mediate conflicts between traditional and mechanised fishers, and implement habitat restoration projects such as mangrove replantation. This decentralised model ensures that solutions are tailored to local ecological realities.

Case Studies: Successes from the Ground

Tactical Edge: Synergy with Government & NGOs

The competitive advantage of these community-led models lies in their adaptability and integration with government schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and technical assistance from NGOs. This multi-level collaboration amplifies surveillance, enhances training on modern conservation techniques, and channels funds efficiently to grassroots actors.

In summary, Indias fight against fishery crimes is increasingly driven by empowered communities who combine traditional knowledge with tactical innovation—making them indispensable allies in aquatic conservation across both coastal belts and inland waters.

5. Technology Adoption for Fisheries Protection

India’s battle against fishery crimes and its quest for sustainable aquatic resource management have witnessed a technological revolution in recent years. As the stakes rise, both government agencies and local fishing communities are turning to high-tech solutions to safeguard coastal and inland water bodies. The fusion of modern equipment with traditional knowledge is empowering India’s fisheries sector like never before.

Drone Surveillance on the Frontlines

Unmanned aerial vehicles, popularly known as drones, are now deployed by fisheries departments along strategic coastlines from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu. These flying sentinels enable real-time monitoring of suspicious activities such as illegal trawling, encroachment, or dumping of waste into sensitive zones. Drones provide crucial visual evidence for enforcement teams, even in remote mangroves or river deltas where human patrols face logistical challenges.

GPS-Based Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS)

To combat unreported and unregulated fishing, GPS-based Vessel Monitoring Systems have become mandatory on many mechanised boats operating in Indian waters. By tracking each vessel’s movement through centralised control rooms, authorities can quickly detect when boats enter no-fishing zones or cross international maritime boundaries—an essential move given India’s extensive coastline and border-sharing with neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

mFisheries Apps Empowering Grassroots Vigilance

The rise of smartphone penetration in rural India has paved the way for mFisheries apps designed specifically for Indian fishers. These applications deliver instant weather updates, legal advisories, real-time alerts on fishery crimes, and market prices directly to fishermen’s mobile devices in regional languages such as Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and Malayalam. Such tools are bridging the digital divide while ensuring that even small-scale fishers stay informed and compliant.

Youth Champions and Local Innovation

A new generation of tech-savvy youth from fishing villages is driving bottom-up innovation across Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, and beyond. From building low-cost sensors that monitor water quality in inland ponds to using WhatsApp groups for rapid reporting of illegal netting, these young warriors blend digital skills with a deep-rooted sense of stewardship over their ancestral resources.

Government Initiatives & Public-Private Partnerships

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying is investing heavily in digital infrastructure and training programs under schemes like PM Matsya Sampada Yojana. Collaborations with IITs, start-ups, and NGOs further accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technology tailored to Indian conditions.

By integrating advanced surveillance with grassroots participation, India is setting a benchmark in leveraging technology for fishery crime prevention and conservation—demonstrating that when tradition meets innovation, the nation’s blue economy stands stronger than ever.

6. Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Sustainable Practices

India’s diverse coastline and inland water bodies are not only rich in aquatic resources but also in indigenous wisdom. The communities living by these waters have developed time-tested conservation methods, deeply rooted in their traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). These practices serve as both a shield against fishery crimes and a foundation for sustainable management, blending local culture with pragmatic solutions.

Seasonal Bans – The Ban Period

Across India, the concept of the ban period (also called “closed season”) is a cornerstone of fisheries conservation. During the monsoon, when many commercially important species spawn, state governments enforce fishing bans along the coast and in major rivers. This practice, often respected since pre-colonial times, is also observed voluntarily by fisherfolk in several regions out of respect for nature’s cycle. By allowing fish stocks to replenish, the ban period acts as a natural armor against overfishing and illegal poaching during vulnerable breeding months.

Machhli Abhayaranya – Fish Sanctuaries

The tradition of establishing machhli abhayaranya (fish sanctuaries) showcases community-driven action. Villages along the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Godavari, and other river systems set aside stretches of water where all forms of fishing are strictly prohibited. These sanctuaries often have religious or cultural significance—protecting sacred pools or temple tanks—and serve as safe havens for indigenous species like mahseer or hilsa. Such locally managed protected zones become natural strongholds against illegal capture and ensure long-term sustainability.

Cultural Taboos and Customary Norms

Many Indian coastal and inland communities uphold age-old taboos that indirectly promote sustainable fisheries. For example, some tribes in Odisha avoid harvesting certain fish species during specific lunar phases; others in Kerala or Assam prohibit the capture of gravid females or fingerlings. These unwritten rules are enforced by social pressure rather than legal decree, yet their effect on deterring unsustainable practices rivals that of formal law enforcement. Respecting these customs helps maintain ecological balance while nurturing a sense of stewardship among fisherfolk.

Together, these traditional conservation measures—ban periods, fish sanctuaries, and cultural taboos—form a tactical line of defense against modern fishery crimes. They are not just relics of the past but essential gear in India’s contemporary strategy for sustaining aquatic resources.

7. Way Forward: Policies and Action Points

Strengthening Policy Implementation

India’s vast coastline and intricate network of inland water bodies demand robust, locally adapted policies to effectively combat fishery crimes and ensure sustainable conservation. The government must prioritise stricter enforcement of existing laws like the Marine Fishing Regulation Act and harmonise state-wise regulations to close loopholes often exploited by offenders. Capacity-building programmes for fisheries officers, coast guard, and local enforcement agencies should be intensified with modern surveillance tools, digital reporting systems, and regular sensitisation workshops tailored to the unique challenges faced in Indian waters.

Empowering Fishing Communities

True change begins at the grassroots. Empowering fishing communities through participatory management is key—local fisherfolk should have a voice in decision-making councils (such as Gram Sabhas and co-management committees). Training sessions on identifying illegal practices, sustainable netting techniques, and legal rights can help create community custodianship over aquatic resources. Women’s self-help groups (SHGs) and youth collectives can serve as critical nodes for monitoring activities and propagating conservation values within their circles.

Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods

Alternatives must be developed to reduce economic dependence on unsustainable or illicit fishing. Promoting aquaculture cooperatives, eco-tourism initiatives like mangrove safaris, and value-added processing units can boost household incomes while relieving pressure on natural stocks. State governments should offer micro-credit schemes, insurance coverage, and market linkages specifically targeted at small-scale traditional fishers, many of whom belong to marginalised communities.

Leveraging Technology for Surveillance & Education

The adoption of satellite-based vessel tracking systems (VTS), mobile-based reporting apps in vernacular languages, and real-time data-sharing platforms can revolutionise monitoring along India’s diverse coastlines—from the Sundarbans to the Malabar coast. Additionally, mass awareness campaigns via radio jingles, WhatsApp groups, folk theatre (like Yakshagana or Jatra), and community radio can demystify conservation norms and highlight the long-term benefits of compliance.

Fostering Public-Private Partnerships

Strategic partnerships with NGOs, academic institutions (such as ICAR-CIFE), and responsible private players can bring technical expertise, research-driven interventions, and investment into anti-poaching patrols or habitat restoration projects. Joint ventures could explore innovative models like payment-for-ecosystem-services that reward community-led conservation efforts.

Actionable Recommendations

• Establish dedicated Fishery Crime Cells at district level with multilingual helplines for rapid response.
• Mandate periodic skill upgradation for enforcement staff on latest crime trends and conservation science.
• Create fast-track courts for speedy prosecution of serious fishery offences.
• Institutionalise seasonal bans & no-fishing zones, with compensation packages for affected families during closures.
• Launch nationwide educational drives, leveraging local idioms and success stories to inspire pride in stewardship among youth.

Together, these strategies will not only curb fishery crimes but also align with the ambitions of Indian fishing communities—balancing tradition with technology, livelihoods with legalities, ensuring that our rivers and seas remain bountiful for generations to come.