Illegal fishing by trawlers from neighbouring states, mainly Maharashtra and Karnataka, continues to threaten the sustainability of the livelihoods of the coastal communities of Goa. The Fisheries Department, along with the Coastal Police, has seized around 10 Maharashtra-registered fishing trawlers for allegedly operating illegally in Goa’s territorial waters. Around seven trawlers were seized in the past few months.
It is evident that the government’s assurances, enforcement attempts, and promises to use tech devices have failed to deter violations. These vessels are frequently found within Goa’s territorial waters, or the areas that have been marked as the ones where trawling is prohibited, especially within 5 km from the coast. Moreover, they resort to harmful practices like bull trawling and use LED lights that can destroy marine habitats.
Sadly, these violations have happened despite the measures announced by the Fisheries Department. If we may recall, during the August 2025 session of the Legislative Assembly, the government assured strict enforcement, tech surveillance, and border security. Some of the deterrent tools like drone deployment, setting up of law enforcement teams, and imposition of tough penalties, up to Rs 10 lakh, haven’t helped.
It appears that enforcement agencies are limited by systemic issues: they face difficulties in their work due to slow response times, irregular patrolling, and suspicious collusion or nexus with illegal fishing lobbyists. Local fishermen state that the perpetrators of illegal practices are operating in a very brazen manner and, as a consequence, they are also threatening or attacking local fishers who try to monitor or protest their activities.
The question is, why do these breaches continue despite the stringent mechanisms? One reason could be that the profits made by illegal fishing activities are so attractive that they outweigh the risk of detection and punishment. The fishing industry is a moneymaking venture, and therefore, many illegal players from neighbouring states might think that the risk-to-reward ratio is high.
The government has now come up with an unconventional solution to the problem of using local canoes for near-shore patrolling. The project is based on the idea of directly involving traditional fishermen in the supervision and intervention against those who are executing illegal activities at sea, along with utilising their knowledge of the area and presence. The scheme is centred upon the recruitment of local fishermen with small, motorized canoes that are fitted with a safety kit and will be stationed at areas like Arambol, Calangute, Benaulim, Baina, and Talpona.
This plan is certainly a creative one, however, it does bring up some important issues. Are local fishermen equipped with the knowledge and resources necessary to fend off trawlers which may be heavily armed or have advanced technology? Will their participation be enough to constitute a significant deterrent? Moreover, the aspects of financing, safety, and collaboration still require thorough consideration if these grassroots initiatives are to be effective.
The primary factor that is being overlooked is that enforcement alone cannot solve the root problems of illegal fishing. It is imperative to understand that the situation calls for radical measures. Would it be more efficient to tighten the patrols, impose stricter punishments, or even seek diplomatic intervention with neighbouring states? The problem that keeps arising implies that the steps taken so far are insufficient, and that complacency or corruption may be going against enforcement.
That illegal trawling is still going on in Goa’s waters is a clear indication of a systemic failure. While the involvement of local fishermen is a step in the right direction, it may not be adequate to break up the illegal fishing networks that are deeply rooted. The question that is still there: does the government have enough political will to carry out comprehensive measures?
