Light fishing has emerged as a major threat to India’s coastal marine ecosystems. Analyse its cascading impact on the marine food chain. Suggest policy-level interventions to promote sustainable and equitable fishing practices.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Economics of animal-rearing
Topic: Economics of animal-rearing
Q6. Light fishing has emerged as a major threat to India’s coastal marine ecosystems. Analyse its cascading impact on the marine food chain. Suggest policy-level interventions to promote sustainable and equitable fishing practices. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: DTE
Why the question: The persistence of illegal light fishing despite a national ban and its ecological and socio-economic fallout have made it a pressing issue in environmental and livelihood discourse. Key demand of the question: The question demands an analysis of how light fishing affects the marine food chain through ecological disruption, and asks for concrete policy-level measures that ensure both sustainability of marine resources and equity for traditional fishing communities. Structure of the Answer: Introduction: Briefly introduce light fishing as a banned but prevalent practice causing ecological imbalance and marginalisation of traditional fishers. Body: Explain how light fishing disrupts species balance, affects keystone species like squid, and disturbs predator-prey dynamics in the marine food chain. Suggest enforceable policy-level interventions including uniform regulation, technological surveillance, subsidy reforms, and cooperative governance to promote sustainable and equitable fishing practices. Conclusion: Emphasise the need for an integrated and inclusive marine governance framework that secures biodiversity and the rights of coastal communities.
Why the question: The persistence of illegal light fishing despite a national ban and its ecological and socio-economic fallout have made it a pressing issue in environmental and livelihood discourse.
Key demand of the question: The question demands an analysis of how light fishing affects the marine food chain through ecological disruption, and asks for concrete policy-level measures that ensure both sustainability of marine resources and equity for traditional fishing communities.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction: Briefly introduce light fishing as a banned but prevalent practice causing ecological imbalance and marginalisation of traditional fishers.
• Explain how light fishing disrupts species balance, affects keystone species like squid, and disturbs predator-prey dynamics in the marine food chain.
• Suggest enforceable policy-level interventions including uniform regulation, technological surveillance, subsidy reforms, and cooperative governance to promote sustainable and equitable fishing practices.
Conclusion: Emphasise the need for an integrated and inclusive marine governance framework that secures biodiversity and the rights of coastal communities.