Maharashtra resumes open-sea fishing; coastal ban stays till August 15

Open-sea fishing operations resumed across Maharashtra on Friday after the annual monsoon fishing ban came to an end on July 31. However, mechanised fishing vessels will continue to be prohibited from operating within 12 nautical miles of the state’s coastline until August 15 as part of ongoing marine conservation measures, officials said.

The annual fishing ban is imposed every year during the monsoon to protect fish during their breeding season, allowing marine life to regenerate and helping maintain the long-term health of the state’s coastal ecosystem.