Tension ran high in Talpona on Monday when four fishermen went missing at sea, pushing the families, locals, and authorities into a state of panic. After hours of uncertainty, the four were rescued in testing circumstances that brought the coastal crisis management to the fore yet again. The crew members who left the shore at 4 pm on Monday managed to return home at around 6.45 pm on Tuesday, after a terrifying experience at sea, having run out of fuel mid-sea and lost network for communication.
While the Talpona Coastal Police Inspector did a commendable job in alerting officials in the neighbouring State of Karnataka and Karwar, besides venturing into the deep sea with a team of policemen in a daring rescue operation, locals resorted to blocking the Canacona highway in protest against what they called “lack of coordination” between various authorities.
In September this year, 27 fishermen were stranded in the deep sea after their trawler capsized off the coast of Mobor Beach, Goa. The incident occurred due to an engine failure amid rough sea conditions and heavy rainfall. The trawler began to sink, leaving the crew in distress and helplessness. In this case, it was a fisherman nicknamed “Pele” from Benaulim who showed courage and went on a rescue mission on his private jet ski and managed to rescue all those stranded.
Such incidents have sparked a broader discussion on the need for improved coastal safety infrastructure and better-equipped rescue services from the government. However, nothing much has changed over the years, and coastal security remained as unpredictable as the seas. For example, the Fisheries Department, after a string of failed experiments, came up with an innovative idea in November of deploying hired canoes at five strategic coastal points to strengthen patrolling. The aim was to cut down on reaction time to trap intruding fishing vessels or those indulging in illegal fishing. Under the plan, static patrolling units were to be stationed at Arambol (Pernem), Calangute (Bardez), Benaulim (Salcete), Baina (Mormugao), and Talpona (Canacona). Till now, there has been no sign of this proposal making any headway.
Past assurances, too, have failed. The much-talked-about drone surveillance in the deep sea never took off, and the coastal police still lack the basic equipment that is required to promptly address any crisis. Sadly, in the Talpona case, the lone boat available with the coastal police was not in working condition, and hence the team had to deploy a private vessel. Goa is relying on a single functional interceptor boat along the entire 105-kilometre coastline, while five High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) boats are either non-operational or under repair.
The Talpona incident brings up critical questions about deep-sea crisis management. The situation demanded that different agencies coordinate and work together in the rescue while also communicating with the families and the local fishing community. Fishing is the mainstay of Goa, but fraught with challenges and risks due to the uncertainties of the seas. The Fisheries department needs to understand the seriousness and the risks to lives and accordingly establish a protocol that is not only swift, but well-coordinated with the coast guard and other departments.
With the ocean still being both a source of income and a risk, the true test of Goa’s network will be in its capacity to ensure the safety of its people, create support systems that have the security of people at its core. It’s a disgrace that we, as a coastal State, lack the basics in ensuring the safety of our fishermen.
