VASCO
The All Goa Fishermen Union (AGFU) and National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) have criticised the fisheries department for failing to implement the ban on bull trawling and use of LED lights equipped with or with generator in the territorial waters of the State.
The AGFU and NFF have asked Fisheires Minister Vinoda Paliencar and the State government to intervene in the matter and take necessary action to impound the use of LED lights with genset/generators within seven days, failing which they will be compelled to take law in their hands.
“After a state-level agitation at Panaji and Betul, the Goa government had issued orders banning the use of bull or pair trawling and use of LED lights in territorial waters and Indian Exclusive Zone (EEZ) in an order May 10, 2016. This was followed by central government’s order dated November 10, 2017 of Ministry of Agriculture & farmers welfare department of Animal Husbandry,” said NFF Vice-Chairperson Olencio Simoes.
“But sadly, rampant violation continues in territorial waters and Indian Exclusive Zone (EEZ). This blatant violation of Goan fishing trawlers has gone to an extent that they were found using LED lights near Malvan Coast in Maharashtra and three Goan fishing trawlers were caught by fisheries department of Maharashtra. And yet, the Goa fisheries department has turned blind eye towards these illegalities in the State,” said Simoes.
AGFU President Agnelo Rodrigues said the government had spent crores of rupees to purchase a patrol vessel Ave Maria-14 designed to conduct patrolling inland and sea water.
“But the crew employed are unfit as such and all need to be suspended, as even after repeated complains no action has been taken on the violators till date,” said Rodrigues.
Fernandes said the LED lights used are of mostly 1600 watts upto 5000 watts which are powered by additional genset/generator attracts fish upto from 5km.
“Due to intense heat generated by lights, the juvenile fish along with all corals and marine vegetation get destroyed and the use of LED lights will totally destroy ecology and fish will get totally extinct,” Fernandes added.
