Workshop ’Sea Creations’ highlights need to protect endangered species

Workshop ’Sea Creations’ highlights need to protect endangered species

Mangaloretoday News Network

Mangalore, Mar 26: Additional Director General of Police (CID Forests) K. S. N. Chikkerur spoke on the importance of protecting wild life at a workshop titled “Sea Creation” held at NMPT Club on March 26, Saturday. He said that the Wild Life Act is the same in all states that that any person who causes harm to or kills any wild creature will have to face imprisonment for 5 – 7 years. 

He said that endangered species of fish such as Dugong, Blue Whale, Ganges stake, guitar fish, sea fans, green sea turtles, as well as bullied sea eagles, reptiles, cetaceans, and other rare species need to be protected. Stating that it is one of his responsibilities to enforce the Wild Life Protection Act of 1972 and Karnataka Forest Act, he said that it is very important to create awareness regarding this act among the fishermen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stating that the act prevents fishermen publicizing the fact that they have caught an endangered variety of fish, he said that the fisheries department will display posters of endangered species prominently in all fishing ports and that the coastal police will help fishermen identify endangered species and also take action against those who willfully violate the law. 

Ganapathi Bhat, the joint director of fisheries, said that usually human beings do not protect animals and sometimes unknowingly kill them, which creates various imbalances in nature. Stating that a number of rare species of birds, fish, and animals are on the verge of becoming extinct, he said that protecting these species is of paramount importance. 

Karnataka Fisheries Development Corporation (KFDC) President Nithin Kumar said that there are hardly any dolphins in DK and added that fishermen will surely follow rules, which prevent them from catching endangered species of fish. He also urged the authorities concerned to provide the locals names of endangered fish along with the photographs so that fishermen can avoid catching such fish. 

Interacting with the officials, Yathish Baikampady, the CEO of Panambur Beach Tourism Development Project, said that fishermen do not catch endangered fish purposely and are mostly unaware of such fish getting into their fishing nets. He urged the authorities to warn industries not to dump their waste that harms fish into the river. Chikkerur responded that if fishermen find a dead endangered fish in their nets, they should not sell it, but should inform the authorities or toss it back into the river.

Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, SP Dr. A. Subrahmanyeshwar Rao, IGP Alok Mohan, K. R. Anvekar, the forest SP (CID) of Madikeri, and other officials were also present.