the goan I network
MARGAO
The hunt for the prized solar shrimp begins from Thursday as the mechanized vessels as well as the country-made motorized canoes brace up for the new fishing season.
Delay in the arrival of the migrant manpower may, however, play spoilsport for many a mechanized owner as workers employed on the fishing jetties are still to report to the jetties till date.
While the Cutbona fishing jetty has witnessed the movement of hundreds of workers, boat owners pointed out that many a fishing vessel may not venture out in the sea for want of manpower.
Goa’s mechanized fishing industry is virtually at the mercy of migrant workers, and any delay in their arrival causes a huge impact on the fishing operations.
Sources say that while many a worker prefer to hit the jetties after their paddy sowing back home is completed, there are many workers whose arrival is dependent on the availability of transport facilities.
As the hunt for the prized solar shrimp begins from tomorrow, boat owners are keeping their fingers crossed over the rate for the catch.
Many a boat owner was hoping that the prized shrimp may command a rate of Rs 165 per kilogram, which was paid to some of the traditional fishermen in Mormugao a couple of days ago.
President of the Cutbona Boat Owners Union Savio D’Silva said the stage is set for the commencement of the new fishing season from Thursday. He said though many migrant workers have reported to the jetty in the last two to three days, many a boat owner has complained over the non-arrival of the migrant work force.
Savio, however, was keeping his fingers crossed whether the hostile navigation conditions at the mouth of river Sal at Betul will facilitate the fishing vessels from Cutbona and Betul to venture out in the sea on Thursday.
“Though the weather conditions are not adverse at sea, we only hope that the hostile navigation conditions at the river Sal mouth do not come in the way of the fishing vessels from Cutbona and Betul jetties from venturing out in the sea tomorrow,” Savio added.
