VASCO
The Goa Fishing Boat owners Association () has said the hike in fuel prices has destroyed fishing boat owners who were already hit by a bad fishing season. "The fishermen have been hit by huge losses and some are in big trouble, but the recent fuel hike has made a bad situation even worse for them and has destroyed them,” said GFBOA President Jose Philip Dsouza, while speaking to reporters along the sidelines of an event at Kharewaddo-Vasco.
“Last year, diesel was priced at Rs 56 a litre and today, it is Rs 94. By the time our fishing season starts, diesel will cross Rs 100. Every boat which goes on a long trip of about 10 days needs to be loaded with around 5,000-6,000 litres of diesel. Without these long trips, fishermen cannot get a good catch of fish. Many boat owners are now stocking less diesel on their boats and are making short trips, which has directly affected their catch and business," said D’Souza.
D’Souza said many boat owners had already spent lakhs of rupees to bring migrant labourers from other states to work on trawlers.
