Long line fishing proposal alarms environmentalists
21 Feb 2010, 6:13 PM
Aishath Shazra
The ministry of fisheries and agriculture plans to introduce drag line fishing to Maldives, in a departure from the traditional pole and line fishing used in the country.
The proposed ‘long line’ fishing involves a horizontal drag line with many baited hooks left out for a couple of hours. Unlike pole and line fishing, environmentalists claim this method produces lots of ‘by-catch’, including turtles, sharks and sea birds.
“We are going for multi-gear fisheries, where some will adopt the long line method and others will continue with pole and line” says State Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture Dr Hussain Rasheed.
Increasing fish catch
Become a member
Get full access to our archive and personalise your experience.
Already a member?
Discussion
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
No comments yet. Be the first to join the conversation!
Join the Conversation
Sign in to share your thoughts under an alias and take part in the discussion. Independent journalism thrives on open, respectful debate — your voice matters.