To curb the capture of juvenile fish and protect breeding cycles, the Maharashtra government, with assistance from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), has established minimum size limits for fish caught or sold in the market. The decision is aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of marine species and safeguarding the livelihoods of local fishermen.
According to the new regulations, the Fisheries Department may take action against those catching fish smaller than the prescribed size. Under these rules, the minimum permissible size for silver pomfret and mackerel is 14 cm, for shrimp 9 cm, for Bombay duck 18 cm, and for seer fish (surmai) 37 cm.
With this initiative, Maharashtra has become the second state after Kerala to implement specific standards for the minimum catch size of fish.