MARGAO rrWith just 20 days to go for the new fishing season to begin, traditional fishermen and mechanized boat owners are anxiously waiting for the weather gods to come to their rescue and herald a good fishing season. rWhat has disturbed the fishing community is the absence of rough weather conditions in the Arabian sea ever since the ban on fishing came into force in the state on June 1. They claimed that rough weather conditions, including a rough sea propelled by strong winds, are the harbinger of a good fishing season, which they say is sadly missing till date. Fishermen say that fish is normally available in abundance when rough weather conditions churns the sea coupled with gusty winds. rGoenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott leader Agnelo Rodrigues observed: “So far, the weather conditions have not been conducive for a good fish harvest. Only once, we have experienced rough weather conditions in the sea during the ongoing 60-day ban on fishing. There ought to have been heavy rains coupled with rough weather conditions in the sea to ensure a good harvest”. rAgnelo, however, sounded optimistic that with still 20 days to go, the weather gods will finally smile on the fishermen. “I expect rough weather conditions in the sea from the first week of August. Let us wait and see,” he said, while keeping his fingers crossed. rFormer President of Cutbona Boat Owners Union, Cipriano Cardozo, echoed similar sentiments. Cipriano pointed out that rough weather conditions in the sea are a pointer towards a good fishing season, adding that its absence so far has caused anxiety among the fishermen community. “We hope and pray that things will improve in the next 20 days,” he said. rFisheries Director Dr Shamila Monteiro too hopes for things to improve in the days ahead. “We are hopeful that the sea conditions will change for the better and benefit the fishermen. It is a fact that like agriculture, rains and weather conditions have a big efferct on fish harvest,” she added. rIn the meantime, Sunday saw the State’s lone wholesale fish market at Margao flooded with variety of fish from the country’s eastern coast. Dozens of outstation vehicles transporting fish from the state of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu landed at market selling fish at affordable prices. rSardines, mackerels, prawns and other variety of fish literally flooded the wholesale fish market, bringing relief to fish-loving Goans.
Absence of rough weather worrying fishermen
Even as tonnes of fish from the country’s east coast is flooding the local markets, local fishermen are keeping their fingers crossed as the weather continues to play truant with the prevailing conditions in the Arabian sea not so conducive for a bumper harvest of fish in the new season, beginning from August 1.
