Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
The Assistant Director of Department of Fisheries, David Kharwanlang, on October 26 informed that the department is preparing the Meghalaya Fisheries Act draft where clauses will be included for regulation of fishing competitions to take place in open water, fish ponds.
It may be mentioned that fishing competitions are a craze in the state and lakhs of people flock to them and there are no regulations. The prize money for fishing competitions can go up to lakhs of rupees, with some prizes being in the form of top-notch vehicles.
“We are waiting for it now, it will be studied by the law department, before it gets Cabinet approval. Once approved by the Cabinet, we will implement it,” he told The Meghalayan during the 6th State Aquafest organised in the premises of the State Central Library, where fish from districts of Khasi and Jaintia Hills were displayed.
Once the legislation is in place, Kharwanlang said permission will be needed to regulate the competition which is seen by many as gambling. He said that the absence of legislation is a problem as the department has an agreement with the fish farmers for fish production and other activities and not for competitions.
He added that the owners of the fish farms do not earn much from the fishing competitions as the middlemen use the pond for the competition and give around Rs 10,000 to the owners.