Goa observes an annual fishing ban like several countries over the world. The fishing ban that has been observed in Goa from the year 1981 during the monsoon period lasts approximately a month.

The fishing ban in Goa has 2 main objectives:

1) It allows several species of fish to spawn and provides adequate protection.
2) It prevents fishermen from risking their lives in the choppy monsoon seas.

Traditional fishermen are exempt from the fishing ban which applies only to mechanized boats. The ban occurs uniformly in the coastal areas of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat in order to avoid differences.

Most fishermen in Goa favour a longer monsoon fishing ban along the west coast of India. The current ban lasts from June 15 to July 31 and is an interim order by the Supreme Court. During the ban, one can see most of the fishing trawlers anchored at the 2 main fishing jetties in Goa.