Light Fishing: Threat to Marine Life & Traditional Livelihoods

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 light fishing.

About Light Fishing

• A method using high-powered artificial lights (LEDs) to attract fish and squid to the surface for easy capture.
• Banned in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) since 2017, but enforcement remains weak.
• States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh have partial bans or poor enforcement.

Why Are Fish Attracted to Light?

• Phototaxis (Response to Light Stimuli): Many fish exhibit positive phototaxis, meaning they are naturally attracted to light sources.
  • Innate movement toward (positive phototaxis) or away from light (negative phototaxis).
• Feeding Behavior & Plankton Attraction: Light attracts plankton, which are a primary food source for many fish species.
  • Fish follow their food sources, leading to higher fish concentration around light-emitting areas.
• Disrupted Circadian Rhythms: Many fish rely on natural moonlight and celestial cues for migration and feeding patterns.
  • Artificial lights disrupt this behavior, tricking fish into gathering near the light source.
• Predator-Prey Relationships: Some fish are instinctively drawn to light as a hunting strategy, believing smaller prey will be present.
• Physiological Sensitivity to Light: Many deep-sea and nocturnal fish species have highly sensitive eyes adapted for detecting low-light conditions.
  • Sudden bright lights can temporarily stun or disorient fish, making them easier to catch.

Impacts of Light Fishing

• Overfishing and Depletion of Fish Stocks: Light fishing attracts entire schools of fish, leading to excessive harvesting beyond sustainable limits.
  • The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) reported a significant decline in squid populations off the Kerala coast due to excessive light fishing.
• Disruption of Spawning Cycles: The intense artificial lights interfere with the natural reproductive patterns of marine species.
  • A 2018 CMFRI study found that the reproductive cycles of squid and anchovies in Tamil Nadu and Kerala were disrupted due to excessive light exposure.
• Increased Bycatch and Juvenile Fish Catch: Light fishing does not selectively attract only mature fish but also juveniles and non-target species, leading to wasteful fishing.
  • Reports from the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) indicate that bycatch from light fishing contributes to at least 25% of fishmeal production in Karnataka, instead of being used for human consumption.
• Disruption of Marine Food Chains: The removal of large quantities of squid and small fish affects larger predators like sharks, dolphins, and tuna.
  • In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, declining squid populations due to light fishing have affected predatory fish populations like tuna, which rely on squid as a primary food source.
• Coral Reef and Habitat Degradation: The intense artificial lights and fishing gear disturb fragile coral reef ecosystems.
  • A study by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) found that light pollution in marine areas can lead to increased stress on coral reefs, making them more vulnerable to climate change.
• Disrupting Nocturnal Marine Life: Many marine species rely on darkness for feeding, breeding, and migration. Artificial lights interfere with these natural behaviors.
  • Research from the Kerala Fisheries Department suggests that light pollution forces fish to move to deeper waters, reducing catch efficiency and altering marine distribution patterns.
• Economic Losses from Export Restrictions: Unsustainable practices like light fishing risk trade bans from markets like the EU, which prioritize sustainable fishing. 
  • With India’s seafood export industry valued at $7.38 billion, failure to regulate could lead to significant economic losses.
• Threat to Food Security: By reducing affordable fish availability, light fishing impacts food security in coastal communities like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where fish is a staple. 
  • Declining catches have driven up prices, making seafood less accessible to lower-income families.

Government Initiatives to Curb Light Fishing in India

• National Ban Under the National Policy on Marine Fisheries (NPMF), 2017: Light fishing was banned in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in 2017 to protect marine biodiversity.
• State-Level Bans & High Court Rulings: Gujarat imposed a strict ban, while states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh have only partial restrictions​​.
  • The Karnataka High Court reinstated a ban on light fishing following a petition from the Akhila Karnataka Purse Seine Fishermen Sangha.
• Enforcement & Crackdowns: Fisheries Departments & Marine Enforcement Wings conduct raids and inspections at harbors to seize illegal fishing equipment.
  • In 2024, Karnataka officials seized light fishing equipment in Udupi, but enforcement remained inconsistent due to manpower shortages​​.
• Request for Coast Guard Assistance: Maharashtra Fisheries Department requested the Indian Coast Guard’s help in 2023 to curb illegal LED fishing just beyond the 12 nautical mile limit, where state jurisdiction ends and EEZ regulations begin​​.

Policy & Enforcement Challenges of Light Fishing

• Inconsistent Implementation Across States: While the EEZ ban exists, enforcement at the state level varies, leading to loopholes.
  • Gujarat imposed a strict ban recently.
  • Maharashtra overlooks light fishing while prioritizing trawling restrictions.
  • Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh only have partial bans, making enforcement patchy.
• Limited Resources for Coastal Security: Coastal Police lack the capacity to patrol deeper waters where light fishing occurs.
  • Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala collaborated with the Coastal Police, Navy, and Coast Guard, but the Coastal Security Police can only patrol up to 5 nautical miles, while light fishing occurs between 5 and 12 nautical miles.
• Weak Deterrence Due to Low Penalties: Fines are too small to discourage violators, given the high profits from light fishing.
  • In Gangolli (Karnataka), authorities fined boats using banned lights, but the fine was only ₹16,000, whereas a single light-fishing trip can earn over ₹1 lakh.
• Gaps in Monitoring & Surveillance: Lack of real-time tracking makes it difficult to enforce the ban.
  • Maharashtra requested Coast Guard support in 2023 to monitor LED-equipped boats, but state-level resources remain inadequate.

Global Best Practices to Regulate Light Fishing

• Ghana’s Complete Ban in Territorial Waters: Prohibits all artificial lights within 12 nautical miles.
• Indonesia’s Community-Led Surveillance: Trains fishers to report illegal LED use via apps.
• Mediterranean (Italy/Spain) LED Quotas: Caps LED wattage (max 500W/vessel) and mandates biodegradable lights.
• EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP): Standardizes fishing rules across member states and funds research on sustainable techniques.
• Norway’s ban to protect cod stocks: Implemented a ban on light fishing, or fishing with lights, in specific areas, particularly in the fishing zone near Jan Mayen and the fishing protection zone near Svalbard.

Way Forward and Recommendations for Light Fishing in India

• Regulate Light Fishing Zones: Ban light fishing within 12 nautical miles (territorial waters) to protect traditional fishers and coastal ecosystems.
  • Permit regulated light fishing beyond 12 nm, especially for oceanic squid and pelagic species.
• Restrict Gear and Light Usage: Allow lights only for purse-seines and jigging (not trawls, gillnets, or traps).
  • Limit light power (≤25 kW) to reduce energy waste and ecological disruption.
• Control Fleet Size and Fishing Effort: Cap the number of light-equipped vessels (20–50% of the existing fleet per state).
  • Restrict fishing days (e.g., 10 days/month, around new moons) to prevent overexploitation.
• Enforce Strict Monitoring & Compliance: Implement Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) or AIS for tracking.
  • Strengthen coastal patrols to prevent illegal light fishing in banned zones.
• Protect Spawning Stocks: Seasonal bans (e.g., April–May for mackerel) to safeguard spawning aggregations.
  • Minimum mesh sizes (≥45 mm) in purse-seines to avoid juvenile bycatch.
• Promote Stakeholder Dialogue & Consensus: Mediate conflicts between traditional and light fishers through state-led discussions.
  • Involve CMFRI and fisheries scientists to guide evidence-based policies.
• Invest in Research & Adaptive Management: Monitor catches to assess impacts on fish stocks and recruitment.
  • Develop catch quotas for key species based on scientific data.
  • Encourage LED adoption for energy efficiency and lower emissions.

Conclusion

Light fishing poses a severe threat to India’s marine ecosystems and traditional fishing livelihoods, demanding urgent and strict enforcement of bans within territorial waters. Protecting India’s coastal biodiversity and fisher communities requires a unified policy framework, scientific oversight, and alternative livelihood support to ensure ecological and socio-economic stability.