Upon receiving reports of fishermen using electrofishing devices near Patsoi police outpost, the Joint Co-ordination Committee on Wildlife and Biodiversity (JCCWB) promptly rushed to the site on Saturday and seized an electrofishing machine abandoned by the fishermen.
Seeing the JCCWB team approaching, the fishermen fled, taking advantage of the surrounding water bodies.
Speaking on the incident, JCCWB convenor Romesh Ningthoujam informed that electrofishing not only harms small aquatic creatures but also disrupts the ecological balance.
He stressed that the use of electrofishing machines is strictly prohibited. He further warned that individuals caught using such devices are liable to imprisonment under Section 12 of the Manipur Fisheries Act, 1988 .