Fishermen want complete ban on use of plastic bags

The fishing community will come together on Friday at Azad Maidan demanding a complete ban on use of plastic bags. Fishermen claim that excessive use of plastic in the state is polluting the sea, costing lives of fish and their business.

The fishing community will come together on Friday at Azad Maidan demanding a complete ban on use of plastic bags. Fishermen claim that excessive use of plastic in the state is polluting the sea, costing lives of fish and their business.

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Mumbai's 110-km seashore witnesses around 3 lakh kg plastic waste every day.

"When fishermen go to the shores, they find only plastic in their nets. Out of 125 different species, only 80 are left today. These species need to be saved as early as possible," said Damodar Tandel, president of Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti.

He added, "Like tobacco, plastic should be completely banned. Taking into consideration the amount of plastic being dumped, in the next two years, there may be very little fish left in the Arabian Sea."

Sanjay Koli, vice-president of Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti, said, "Mumbai's seashore has not been cleaned in the past 60 years. Poor fishermen are left with no fish and no money."