Fishers' union bans use of LED bulb in Loktak
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 29 2022:
All Loktak Lake Areas Fishers Union, Manipur (ALLAFUM) on Thursday reaffirmed its ban on use of LED bulb and 'Inao Thaba' technique at night with effect from December 30 to March 30, 2023 .
In a release, ALLAFUM advised fishermen/fisher-women not to fish using the LED bulb and 'Inao Thaba' methods while announcing a strict ban on other non-conventional techniques such as poison and dynamo using batteries in all seasons.
The Union said that ban is in line with its decision taken in 2016.Explaining the reasons for banning LED bulb and Injao Thaba, ALLAFUM said: "This is the season for fingerlings to grow into a more mature fish and that overfishing as a result of fishing all day and all night can lead to sharp depletion of fish population.
Moreover, the migratory birds visit Loktak during this season and it is critical that we do not disturb them particularly at night.
We need to save the fish when they are still very small and it is a matter of sustainability if we allow them to grow in more mature fish".
It continued: "Migratory birds from many countries visit Loktak during this season.
The fishers are also the host to these birds who have come from far off places.
Using LED bulbs at night disturb their behaviour and we must not allow this to happen.
To respect them and to ensure that Loktak continues to be migratory birds' paradise, we must stop using LED during this season.
Remember it has potential for huge eco-tourism" .
ALLAFUM also wants all motor boats at Loktak to stop operating, saying: "Except for some essential ones like those plying between Thanga and Karang and for medical emergencies, all motor boats, small and big, should be stopped" .
"Motorised boats are harmful to aquatic plants as well as fish.
Residents and migratory birds are also disturbed by these boats", it added.
The Union then said that it had written to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the past and the Ministry consequently directed the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) for action, but the latter remains silent on the matter.
ALLAFUM then appealed to all fishers of Loktak to respect its decision (ban) while urging the LDA to begin banning of motor boats, and the use of LED bulbs for night fishing.