- Pole-and-line fishing is a traditional fishing method recognised as an important sustainable fishing practice.
- Unlike destructive fishing practices such as trawling, pole-and-line fishing is considered an environment-friendly technique due to its minimal impact on the environment.
- The union government’s latest annual budget includes significant financial allocations for Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to support tuna’s “economic harvesting” for international export. While some island fish workers see this as a positive step, others have warned about the added strain on the marine ecosystems that are under pressure.
In 1961, former Air Force pilot-turned-civil servant Moorkoth Ramunni came to Lakshadweep, a remote archipelago of 36 islands in the Arabian Sea, as its new administrator. India’s former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had tasked him with improving the living conditions of people across the inhabited islands.
While in Lakshadweep, Ramunni joined Hussain Ali, a resident of southern Minicoy Island, on a tuna fishing expedition. Here, Ramunni was captivated by the small-scale traditional pole-and-line fishing practice.
The chance encounter with Hussain Ali, a well-known local advocate of pole-and-line tuna fishing, gave Ramunni a first-hand experience of this targeted fishing method that enables selective capture – it prevents capturing juvenile fish and species on the conservation list.
The traditional fishing method, which originated over 1,000 years ago in the Maldives and spread then to Minicoy in Lakshadweep and a couple of Nicobar Islands, is now recognised as a significant sustainable fishing practice globally.
In Minicoy, recognising this low-profile fishing method as an example of an eco-friendly and sustainable fishing practice, Ramunni began advocating for this model to be adopted throughout the archipelago. This initiative has been important to protect the marine biodiversity of the seas surrounding Lakshadweep for the past 64 years.
The main product of pole-and-line fishing is dried skipjack tuna, locally known as mas, which is favoured by islanders, Sri Lankans, and Japanese consumers. Due to the sustainable nature of this harvesting method, the demand for pole-and-line-caught tuna is rising in Western markets.
However, its future now appears uncertain as commercial alternatives in catching tuna emerge. While these may provide financial benefits, they compromise on sustainability.
Protecting identity, land, jobs
The Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi Islands (Protection of Scheduled Tribes) Regulation Act of 1964 was enacted to safeguard the land and resources of the Scheduled Tribes from exploitation. Scheduled Tribe is a legal designation in India that provides certain benefits and protections to indigenous communities. The regulation not only reinforced the Scheduled Tribe status of the islanders who had occupied these islands for generations, but also initiated land reforms aimed at financially empowering them. It also aimed to protect the rich marine resources of the Lakshadweep Islands from being exploited by influential individuals and fishing lobbies from the mainland.
“The tribal islanders needed protection from outsiders who could legally and, in many cases, illegally alienate their lands and resources, as has occurred in the tribal areas of many native communities in Kerala,” Ramunni recalls in his book, India’s Coral Islands in the Arabian Sea, published years later by the Lakshadweep Commission for Socio-Cultural Research. “We ensured that no islander could sell, mortgage, lease, exchange, or gift any land in the island cluster to outsiders, except on rare occasions with special permission from the administrator. Additionally, we aimed to prevent pole-and-line fishing from being exploited, appropriated and manipulated by the selfish interests of profit-driven mainlanders.”
According to Kavaratti-based marine scientist, Muhsin Ali, the pole-and-line fishing method not only prioritises the conservation of robust oceanic skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) through selective and low-impact harvesting techniques but also supports the livelihoods of most local residents.
Marine ecosystem and livelihoods
The union government’s latest annual budget includes significant financial allocations for the economic harvesting of tuna for international export in Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
“Seafood exports in the country are valued at ₹60,000 crores (₹600 billion),” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman said in her budget speech, earlier in February. “To unlock the untapped potential of the marine sector, our government will establish a supportive framework for effectively harvesting fisheries from the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and the High Seas. There will be a special focus on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands.”
While some fish workers in the islands have welcomed the announcement as a positive step toward economic growth, others are concerned about its potential impact on marine ecosystems and fish stocks, which are already under pressure from climate change and human activities.
Critics have raised concerns that the government’s focus on untapped fishing potential of the island clusters may be misguided. With overfishing and high catch rates having significantly reduced marine population in most regions of the country, experts warn that marine species are struggling to recover. A 2022 report by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) indicates that over 4 percent of India’s fish stocks are currently facing overfishing, while 8.2 percent have already been overfished. The availability of fish along India’s coasts — from Gujarat to Kerala and West Bengal to Tamil Nadu — is declining, leading to more pressure on Lakshadweep and the Andamans.
According to the CMFRI study, staples such as mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and sardines (Sardinella longiceps) are becoming scarce in Kerala. This is partly due to warming seas driving fish to migrate to the Bay of Bengal.
Charles George, president of the Kerala Fish Workers’ Union, attributes the government’s new focus on the island clusters to the significant increase in tuna exports, which rose by 31.83 percent last year.
“Tuna, abundant in the deep seas around these islands, has become a major target as fish stocks in traditional fishing areas decline,” he said. “This change in focus has important implications for both the marine ecosystem and the livelihoods of local fish workers.
Pole-and-line fishers catch small fish from the lagoons before heading to the deep sea. These small fish, known as baitfish, are vital for attracting tuna during fishing. Fishermen use baitfish to draw tuna schools to the surface waters near their boats. At the same time, they use long bamboo poles fitted with hooks and lines to catch the tuna one at a time.
Over the past 64 years, the Lakshadweep Fisheries Department has significantly supported pole-and-line fishers to enhance fisheries production and improve the livelihoods of island residents. This assistance includes developmental aid such as fuel subsidies and funding for constructing fishing vessels. These efforts have been crucial in the evolution of pole-and-line fisheries, which now employ thousands of islanders and account for 15% of India’s total tuna production.
“Traditionally-caught tuna and its value-added products hold significant demand in the global market,” Kavaratti-based fish worker Abdul Salam said. “By processing and exporting these products with a sustainability label, fishermen in Lakshadweep can have a considerable opportunity to enhance their earnings without compromising their sustainable fishing method.
Risks of overfishing
K.V. Thomas, a retired fisheries scientist from the National Centre for Earth Science Studies, warned of the potential collapse of marine ecosystems in the islands once they open up. “This would result in severe environmental and human costs, particularly for indigenous communities that depend on these resources,” he said. “This scenario is especially concerning if the archipelago is subjected to indiscriminate large-scale fishing.” He added the global tuna market, valued at over ₹3.63 lakh crore (₹3.63 trillion), is driving increased interest in the Indian Ocean, the second-largest region for tuna production, and contributes 21% to global output.
Lakshadweep, an archipelago of coral reef atolls, heavily depends on the health of its diverse yet fragile coral reef ecosystems. Experts emphasise that protecting pole-and-line tuna fishing is essential for maintaining reef health, as it helps reduce the intense pressure on vulnerable coral reef resources.
According to Luqman Muhammed, a doctoral researcher on Lakshadweep fisheries, pole-and-line fishing targets oceanic tuna varieties using small planktivorous reef and lagoon fish as live bait. “It is a highly specific method that results in minimal bycatch, reduces habitat impact, and involves a substantial workforce,” he said.
Researchers warn that tuna species in the Indian Ocean are under significant strain due to decades of intense fishing in areas except those surrounding Lakshadweep. Even the Maldives has abandoned sustainable fishing practices, resulting in hundreds of thousands of tonnes of tuna being caught by trawlers each year. Advocates have pointed out that industrial fishing fleets are removing an unsustainable amount of fish from these waters.
A Biju Kumar, head of the Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries at the University of Kerala, calls for a movement against organised lobbies that capture juvenile tuna and other important species that coexist with tuna. “Sustainable fishing methods must be protected as they help protect the whole marine ecosystem,” he said.
Read more: Indigenous turtle-safe fishing devices help India tackle U.S. shrimp ban
Banner image: Fishermen from Kavaratti at work, performing pole-and-line fishing in the deep-sea area. Image by K.A. Shaji.
