Time-zoning for the safe-guarding of capture fisheries: A closed season in Tamil Nadu, India

A closed fishing season is arguably the most important fisheries regulation measure implemented by the government of India in the new millennium. Applied mainly to the inshore trawl fishing fleet, the planners’ intention was a safe-guarding of capture fisheries. This article, which is based on fieldwork in seven harbour locations, considers the socio-economic consequences of the closed fishing season for trawler fishermen in the state of Tamil Nadu. It concludes that the success of the ban is based on cooperation between government and local fisher associations, and on broad agreement as to its necessity. Those who are impacted most by the implementation of the closed fishing season are lower-class workers and traders lacking opportunities for alternative employment.