Monsoon Fishing Ban Protects Fish in MP, But Who’s Protecting the Fishermen?

Every year, Madhya Pradesh bans fishing during the monsoon. It’s a rule meant to protect fish during their natural breeding season and help conserve aquatic life. The two-month monsoon period is when many fish species reproduce, making it a sensitive and important time for their survival.

This year, the ban has been announced again—at least on paper. But on the ground, things look different. Many fishermen are still out fishing and selling their catch, despite the restrictions.

Forty-five-year-old Anil Raikwar, who has been selling fish for years at Sehore’s fish market, says, “During the ban, we don’t go fishing ourselves, but we get fish from Bhopal’s market, bring them here, and sell them.” However, when asked whether these fish are coming from illegal catches, he falls silent.

At the Sehore market, we also found adult fish being sold—a practice that’s strictly prohibited during the monsoon breeding season.

Our reporting found that during the two-month fishing ban, cash-strapped and marginalised fisherfolk are pushed to the edge. With little access to government schemes and mounting family needs, many are left with no choice but to turn to illegal fishing.

On July 14, the Sehore Fisheries Department raided the local fish market and seized 45 kg of illegal fish. During the raid, many sellers fled the scene.

B.M. Singh Sisodia, a department officer, said,

“District Collector Balaguru K has ordered strict enforcement of the fishing ban until August 15. Following this, our team is regularly conducting raids and working to stop the illegal transport and sale of fish.”

Similar raids are being carried out by the department in other parts of the state. But stopping illegal fishing isn’t easy. 

Understanding the ban

Speaking to Ground Report, Sisodia explains that every year, from June 16 to August 15, the government enforces strict restrictions on fishing in all rivers, major reservoirs, and certain designated areas known as “notified waters” across Madhya Pradesh. These rules also apply to activities after fishing—including the sale, transport, and exchange of fish—during the monsoon season.

“However, small ponds or isolated water bodies that aren’t connected to rivers and aren’t classified as notified waters are exempt from the ban,” Sisodia adds.

This comprehensive approach ensures that fishing bans are effective not only in directly preventing overfishing but also in reducing illegal trade. The absence of such measures during fish breeding can undermine conservation efforts. 

This seasonal ban is imposed under Section 3(2) of the Madhya Pradesh River Fisheries Rules, established in 1972. It is made effective through instructions from the district collector. Violators of this ban may be fined up to Rs 5,000, imprisoned for up to a year, or both.

Sisodia says, "When we get information that fish is being sold illegally, we take a team to raid. But the fishermen dodge us and run away."

Biology Behind the Ban 

The main reason for banning fishing during the monsoon is to protect fish during their breeding season. Overfishing, especially during this time, harms fish populations and damages aquatic ecosystems. It leads to the killing of baby fish and catching fish while they’re breeding. As a result, fewer fish are born, and their numbers keep dropping. In short, the ban on fishing during monsoons in Madhya Pradesh is not just a seasonal ban but a scientifically based conservation strategy.

Monsoon is the peak breeding season for many freshwater fish in Madhya Pradesh. During these months, fish gather in large numbers to lay eggs and raise their young in rivers and reservoirs.

Limnologist Dr. Shriparna Saxena says the monsoon fishing ban is necessary.

“The main reason for the ban is to allow fish to breed,” she explains. “If fishing continues during this time, the next generation of fish in natural ecosystems is at risk. While fish from hatcheries aren’t affected, this season is very sensitive for species that breed naturally in rivers and reservoirs.”

A study has found a sharp 87.7% decline in fish populations. Larger species have been hit the hardest, as they play a key role in breeding. If these fish are caught during the breeding season, the next generation never gets a chance to grow.

Smaller fish, like guppies, also struggle to survive during this time. This season is especially critical for forage fish—small species that form a vital link in the aquatic food chain.

When fish are killed during breeding, it also affects the size and strength of their eggs and young (larvae). Weaker eggs mean fewer survive, and over time, the population fails to recover.

According to a study, a freshwater Australian fish species called Macquarie Perch is now endangered due to overfishing during its breeding season. 

From Melbourne to Madhya Pradesh, the story remains the same. Department Head of Aquaculture at Sage University Dr. Saxena, who led the conservation program for the Narmada Mahseer (Tor tor), shares her personal experience. She says the mahseer is still being hunted, even during the monsoon ban. In some places, people are using dynamite and blast fishing to catch fish a dangerous and destructive method.

“As a result,” she says, “the Mahseer has almost vanished from the Narmada today.”

Some research has also shown that even if fish are caught and released, harm still occurs. For example, a study of spawning salmon found that in some cases the fish are injured, and the chances of survival of their eggs and young are reduced. 10% The number of eggs remains less than that. This means that this method also has a bad effect on reproduction.

There have been some success stories showing that fishing bans can work. Data collected after such bans shows a positive impact on fish populations.

In one study on Hilsa fish in India, an 11-day fishing ban during the breeding season led to a huge increase in egg production. During that short period, around 3.8 lakh kilos of eggs were produced.

Fisheries scientists have established that most of the commercially and ecologically important species breed during the monsoon. Indian major carps, also known as IMC, that include fishes like rohu (Labeo rohita), catla (Catla catla), and mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala) together contribute significantly to fisheries production across India. IMC are among the most commonly eaten freshwater fish in the country.

The timing of breeding of these fish depends on environmental cues brought by the monsoon, such as increased water flow, expected temperature, and dissolved oxygen levels. For example, studies show that the peak of breeding activity of rohu coincides with the rise in river water levels due to monsoon rains, which helps disperse eggs and larvae into nutrient-rich floodplains and tributaries, increasing their survival rate.

This is why restricting fishing during this critical period helps ensure that mature fish are not lost to the population before they can reproduce. This allows breeding fish to complete their reproductive cycle, lay as many eggs as they can, and contribute to the next generation of fish. Without such protection, excessive fishing pressure can significantly reduce breeding fish populations, leading to stock depletion in the long term.

In addition, banning fishing during the monsoon promotes genetic diversity within fish populations. Allowing fish to reproduce without disturbance maintains a wide gene pool, which is crucial for a population’s adaptability to changing environmental conditions such as climate change, pollution, or disease outbreaks. 

Water quality usually improves due to increased water volume and flow during the monsoon, which also creates favourable conditions for fish larvae and young fish. Freshwater ecosystems during the rainy season become productive habitats with abundant plankton and other food sources that support larval growth. Restrictions on fishing protect these vulnerable young fish from accidental predation, increasing their chances of survival to adulthood.

Survival and Sustainability

Fisherman Anil Raikwar, who has been involved in fishing and selling fish for generations, agrees that hunting big fish during the monsoon affects future fish availability. “If we catch them now, we won’t have any left in the coming months,” he says.

Still, he points out the other side of the issue. “This two-month ban creates a livelihood crisis for poor fishermen like us,” he adds. For Raikwar and many others, fish are not just food—they are the only source of income.

The socio-economic impacts of the fishing ban on fishermen communities in Madhya Pradesh are deep and multi-faceted. About 50% of Madhya Pradesh's population is in the region of 2.2 lakh fishermen. They depend on the state's 18 major reservoirs and river systems like the Narmada, Betwa and Tapti for their livelihood.

The ban on fishing causes these individuals and their families to face two months of unemployment every year. Many from the Nishad community, the predominant fishermen group living along the river, have to look for alternative means of earning income during this idle time.

Government Schemes Failed

According to Raikwar, he has to do menial jobs for two months to make ends meet. He says,

“We do not get the benefit of any government scheme. The government had promised to give us Rs. 3000 per month during the lockdown. This amount is very less to run the household but we do not even get this.”

The central government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to support fishermen during the fishing ban. Under this scheme, eligible fishermen aged 18 to 60 years from economically weaker sections are given ₹3,000 as livelihood and nutritional support.

To get this benefit, fishermen must contribute ₹1,500 themselves. The government matches this amount, making it a total of ₹3,000. However, many fishermen say they don’t receive the support, either due to lack of awareness, paperwork hurdles, or delays in government disbursal.

This grant is in the ratio of 50:50 for general states and 80:20 for northeastern states and Himalayan states, while for union territories this ratio is 100%. But the fishermen of Sehore say that they have not received this amount for many years.

Fisheries department official B. M. Singh Sisodia says that "For many years this amount has not reached the department from the top. This is the reason why the fishermen are not getting this assistance amount." He further says that "Actually the fishermen do not deposit the contribution of Rs 1500, which they have to make from their side; this is also the reason why fishermen do not get the benefit of this scheme."

The lack of financial security among fishermen and fish sellers is also a reason why despite the ban, various kinds of fish are available in the fish market during the rainy season.

Dr. Saxena sheds light on this problem and says, “We have many examples of non-compliance of the ban. During our field survey, we saw many times that fish were being sold in the markets despite the ban, and there were eggs in their stomachs. This simply means that the ban is being violated. This has a long-term negative impact on the fish population. When the Fisheries Department is talked to about this, it says that it is the work of the police, and the police considers it the responsibility of the Fisheries Department.

There are strict laws regarding the protection of fish. But this has a negative impact on the income of fishermen. In such a situation, if these fishermen have an alternative source of income during this ban, then there is a possibility that they will not hunt fish during breeding.

Beyond the Ban

Dr. Saxena has been a part of the Miracle Strategy (Madhya Pradesh Initiative for River and Aquatic Life Enhancement). This program was run for the conservation of the Narmada Mahseer. An important part of this project was to provide financial options to the fishermen so that they do not hunt the mahseer during breeding time. 

Dr. Saxena explains, “During our project, we involved fishermen in river monitoring (patrolling) as an alternative employment. These fishermen played the role of guards in about 52 km of ​​the Narmada River, on the basis of which they received financial assistance of up to ₹ 2 lakh annually from the State Forest Department and Wildlife Board. This model led to conservation and also secured their livelihood.”

The government should link fishermen to hatchery-based fish farming or other alternative employment during the ban so that they are not forced to resort to poaching. But at the current stage, these efforts are inadequate, Dr. Saxena added.

Similar bans have been imposed in states like Odisha and Kerala, where the government has given some relief plans to the fishermen.

However, the challenge remains the same across the country—finding a balance between protecting fish and supporting the livelihoods of fishermen. The government needs to provide financial support during the two-month fishing ban so fishermen can sustain themselves while allowing fish to breed and replenish naturally.

Edited by Diwash Gahatraj

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