India’s 7,500-kilometre coastline — rich in biodiversity and home to millions of fishers — is under increasing threat from an outlawed fishing practice that continues with impunity: Light fishing. This method, which uses high-powered artificial lights to lure fish and squid to the surface, has been banned in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) since 2017. Yet enforcement remains inconsistent.
“In states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, light fishing is not totally banned in territorial waters and where rules do exist, enforcement is weak,” said Prakash Harikantra, an elder with the Baindoor Fishermen’s Association. The ecological degradation and social disruption caused by light fishing, he added, call for urgent nationwide action.
Senior officials from the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) have also raised concerns over the issue, pointing to the European Union and Japan as examples where strict regulation has helped stabilise marine ecosystems. According to the officials, preserving fish populations is crucial for sustaining India’s seafood export sector. And the ecological damage inflicted by light fishing is significant.
Generators power high-intensity artificial lights that attract fish, including juveniles and bycatch, in large numbers. Studies warn of severe ecological consequences — a 2016 paper in the Fisheries Journal included overfishing, juvenile stock depletion and coral reef degradation as impacts of this technique.
The Kerala-based Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in 2018 also highlighted growing conflicts between traditional fishers and industrial operators adopting high-intensity lights, which disrupt spawning cycles and livelihoods. As cheaper light-emitting diode technology penetrates deeper waters, papers have urged immediate policy action to prevent irreversible damage to fish stocks and coastal communities.
“In some states, juvenile fish catches have risen sharply,” said Jeevan Tandel of the Uttara Kannada Fishermen’s Association. “We’ve raised the issue multiple times with the National Fishworkers Forum and the All India Fishermen’s Federation, but no substantial action has been taken.” Squid — a key species in the marine food web — are particularly vulnerable. “Squid are slow-moving and get caught easily when lights are used,” explained Sandesh Bangera of the Malpe Trawl Boat Association. “This has a cascading effect on the food chain, starving larger predators.”
Growing divide among fishers
The fallout isn’t only environmental — it’s deeply social. Small-scale, traditional fishers using hand-cast nets and country boats find themselves at a stark disadvantage compared to mechanised vessels equipped with powerful lights. In Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, where bans are partial or absent, many artisanal fishers report dwindling catches, the National Fishworkers Forum noted in 2019. In Kerala, despite a state-level ban, enforcement lapses have allowed LED-equipped boats to operate openly. Fishers in Kollam reported continued violations as recently as January 2025.
According to a former Karnataka fisheries department official, Karnataka, Goa and Kerala have attempted to collaborate with the Coastal Police, Navy and Coast Guard to monitor illegal light fishing, the Coastal Security Police often lack the capability to patrol beyond five nautical miles — while most light fishing occurs between five and twelve.
“Expecting the Navy or Coast Guard to take on this responsibility is unrealistic,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “They have national security mandates. That leaves traditional fishers to monitor violators themselves, either by intercepting boats or reporting them.”
Senior fisher leaders have long condemned light fishing. “These practices yield mostly juvenile fish, often sold for fishmeal,” said Dinesh Salian, a prominent fishing leader from Karnataka. “With the largest number of fishmeal producers in the state, there’s a strong incentive for this unsustainable practice.” Shivaprakash, a former academic with the College of Fisheries in Mangaluru, added: “Light fishing threatens the recruitment of young fish during the monsoon ban period. It’s ecologically dangerous and economically damaging for traditional fishers.”
Patchwork of policies
The national ban in 2017 was intended as a safeguard, but enforcement has been patchy. While Gujarat has recently imposed a ban, Maharashtra continues to overlook the issue, focusing instead on trawling. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh maintain partial restrictions that leave loopholes easily exploited.
In 2023, Maharashtra requested Coast Guard support to crack down on illegal LED use, citing limited state resources. Karnataka officials seized light fishing equipment in Udupi in 2024, but manpower shortages prevent sustained patrols. In Kozhikode, Kerala, fishers allege that non-local boats violate the ban with little oversight, as of February 2025.
Countries such as Italy, Croatia and Japan regulate or restrict light fishing to protect marine stocks. “These countries show that it’s possible to balance innovation with sustainability,” said Naveed Hussain, a seafood exporter to the EU. “India could learn from these policies to preserve both marine life and livelihoods.”
India’s fragmented framework — national EEZ restrictions coupled with varied state-level rules — is insufficient. “A fully enforced nationwide ban would level the playing field and protect our fish stocks,” argued Santosh Kundar, a Mangaluru-based trawl boat owner. A uniform policy would also align with United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goal 14, which focuses on ocean conservation and equitable access to marine resources.
However, enforcement must be more than symbolic. It requires increased patrolling, stricter penalties and education for fishers. Subsidies for sustainable equipment and alternative livelihoods could ease the transition for those reliant on light fishing. In Karnataka’s Gangolli in early 2025, authorities fined a number of boats for operating with banned lights and generators. Yet, with returns from a single light-fishing trip often exceeding Rs 1 lakh, a Rs 16,000 fine remains a weak deterrent. Without stronger action, India risks losing its marine bounty and the communities that depend on it.