the goan I network
MARGAO
Mechanized fishing vessels dropped anchor on Friday with curtains coming down on the fishing season ahead of the commencement of the 61-day fishing ban, beginning from June 1.
Cutbona fishing jetty, South Goa fishing hub, witnessed hectic activity, with fishing vessels landing at the jetty with prized catch of King fish, Mackerel and other species of fishing, perhaps the last catch of the fishing season. A couple of fishing vessels are believed to have ended the season on a positive note, with a prized catch of fish, commanding good value in the market.
While majority of the fishing vessels have dropped anchor at the river Sal on Friday, there were many other vessels, which are still fishing in the sea, having ventured out a couple of days ago. The fishing vessels are all set to return back either in a day or two, sources said.
With the 61-day ban on fishing set to come into force from Saturday, officials of Salcete Mamlatdar descended at the Cutbona jetty to seal the fuel pumps operating at the jetty. The process of sealing the fuel pumps was underway at Cutbona on Saturday evening.
President of the Cutbona Boat Owners Union Savio D’Silva pointed out that most of the fishing vessels have returned back to the jetty and have dropped anchor. “There may be few vessels which are still in the sea. The fisheries officials will be in a better position to explain when these vessels will return back to the jetties”, he added.
Unloading of the fishing nets from the vessels to waiting vehicles on the jetty was underway. The migrant labour, which forms the backbone of the crew supplied to the fishing vessels, had a break on Friday after months of working on board the vessels. The migrant labour are all set to leave for their native states, including Odisha, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh and will return back on the eve of the new fishing season which will begin on August 1.
