VASCO
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) on Wednesday demanded immediate action against basket fishing in the Zuari River.
GRE General Secretary Olencio Simoes said this fishing activity was being carried out by migrant community who are not from the fishing community.
"This community is indulging in illegal basket fishing activity near Vareg island by using non-registered fishing gears. We demand that the fisheries department impound all such fishing gears in the rivers of Goa.”
“We have seen that there is rampant LED light fishing, bull trawling and even violations of the fishing ban period and we now have this illegal basket fishing in Zuari River. We urge Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar and Fisheries Director Shamila Monteiro to immediately act on illegal fishing and immediately seize the baskets and nets which are non-registered fishing gear.”
“Such illegal activities will further deprive the livelihood of the fishermen, especially the traditional fishermen," said Simoes.
Simoes further added that Goencho Ekvott along with St Joseph Vaz college and Chicalim Youth Farmers Club had planted mangroves at the Vareg Island on the occasion of World Environment Day
"Mangroves are very vital for the environment and ecosystem by absorbing carbon dioxide as well. We have seen that rivers are polluted as the mangroves are being depleted and other species are being finished," said Simoes.
