Fishermen resorting to blasts to kill fish on a large scale

The Forest Department officials in Karnataka are grappling with a new menace of large-scale killing of fish in Cauvery river by triggering under-water explosions.

With fishermen illegally using dynamites to trigger under-water explosions in the Cauvery river flowing through forest areas in several districts of southern Karnataka and killing thousands of fish in one shot, the Forest Department officials have expressed concern over the threat to ecological balance due the unlawful activity.

The CID Cell of the Forest Department recently arrested three persons carrying 27 kgs of fish they had killed illegally in the Cauvery river at Bheemeshwari in Mandya. Investigations revealed that the fishermen had used a dynamite to kill the fish.

According to forest department officials, the explosion caused by dynamite under the water leads to a sudden drop in the oxygen levels. “While the smaller fish die immediately, the bigger ones are stunned and come to the surface of the river. The fishermen catch the dead fish as well the live ones that float on the surface using nets. Their fish catch goes up substantially by triggering such explosions”, the forest official said.

With killing of fish or even its eggs in forest areas termed as an offence under the Karnataka Wildlife Protection Act, the forest department officials have begun mounting a vigil for explosives in the villages along the periphery of the forests and block the fishermen’s access to dynamites and gelatine sticks.

The authorities opine that the forest department’s efforts to curb the menace should be complemented even by the policemen in non-forest areas through which the river flows. The Cauvery river flows through Kodagu, Chamarajanagar, Mysore and Mandya districts in sourth Karnataka. “The jurisdictional police officials have to personally inspect the stock with explosives and ammunition dealers and ensure that the dynamites and gelatine sticks do not fall in wrong hands”, the forest department official said.