As fishing resumes, boat owners say key issues remain unresolved

MAPUSA
As Goa's fishing industry prepares to return to the sea from August 1 following the annual two-month monsoon fishing ban, fishermen say they are once again beginning the season with a familiar sense of frustration, alleging that successive governments have failed to address their long-pending demands for better infrastructure and financial support.
From inadequate jetty facilities and incomplete basic amenities to spiralling operational costs and the unresolved issue of VAT reimbursement on diesel, fishing boat owners claim that the industry continues to be neglected despite its significant contribution to the State's economy.
President of the All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (AGFBOA), Jose Philip D'Souza, said that while the Fisheries Department has carried out routine pre-season maintenance at jetties, major infrastructure requirements continue to remain on paper.
"We have nearly 250 fishing boats operating from Kharewada, Vasco, but there is simply no adequate space to berth them. We have repeatedly demanded a larger jetty, but nobody is listening despite the taxes and fees we pay to the government," D'Souza said.
He also criticised the delay in completing a six-seater toilet block near the Kharewada jetty, construction of which began more than a year ago.
"We employ a large number of labourers to work on our boats. If the government cannot even provide a basic toilet facility, what else can we expect?" he questioned.
D'Souza further said the economics of operating fishing vessels have become increasingly difficult, with diesel prices, labour wages and maintenance costs rising sharply over the years.
"The government has not extended any meaningful financial support. Our long-pending demand for reimbursement of the VAT subsidy remains unresolved, placing an additional burden on boat owners," he said.
Similar concerns were echoed by President of the All Goa Purse Seiners Boat Owners Association, Harshad Dhond, who said only a few purse seiner boats are expected to venture into the sea on August 1 as many migrant labourers from Jharkhand are yet to return.
Dhond said that while a long-awaited toilet facility has finally been provided at the Malim jetty, the larger infrastructure project remains far from complete.
"The new jetty project has been under construction for the last 13 years and barely 40 per cent of the work has been completed. Even the first phase is yet to be finished. This is the kind of infrastructure we are expected to work with," he said.
He maintained that the government has failed to address the sector's more pressing concerns.
"There is no subsidy and our demand for VAT reimbursement has still not been settled. With operational costs continuing to rise, many boat owners are finding it increasingly difficult to keep their businesses viable. If this continues, some may even be forced to stop operating," Dhond warned.
Further North, Chapora Boat Owners Fisheries Cooperative Society member Balbhim Malvankar said fishermen there are also unlikely to witness a smooth start to the season.
According to Malvankar, repair work on the Chapora jetty being undertaken by the Fisheries Department is progressing at a snail's pace, while the perennial sand bar at the river mouth continues to delay the movement of fishing vessels.
"We don't expect fishing operations to pick up immediately because of the sand bar issue and the slow progress of the jetty repairs," he said.
For Goa's fishing community, the new season may bring fresh hope of better catches, but on land, the old complaints remain firmly anchored.
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Minister acknowledges boat owners’ concerns, says no quick fix to issues
MAPUSA: Responding to concerns raised by fishing boat owners ahead of the start of the new fishing season, Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar said the government was aware of the infrastructure issues at various fishing jetties but maintained that such projects could not be completed overnight as they involve a detailed tendering process.
The minister's response comes after fishing associations complained of inadequate jetty infrastructure, rising operational costs and the government's failure to restore the long-pending VAT reimbursement for diesel.
Halarnkar said the construction of new fishing jetties and other infrastructure projects required statutory procedures, including tendering, and therefore could not be completed within a short period.
Referring to the longstanding demand for a new jetty at Kharewada in Vasco, Halarnkar said the government faces limitations as the existing jetty falls within the jurisdiction of the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA).
"At Kharewada, we cannot construct a new jetty. We can only undertake repair works because the land belongs to the MPA. We have held several meetings with the MPA, but since it is a prohibited area, carrying out development works is difficult," he said.
On the demand for financial assistance to offset rising operational costs, the minister clarified that the government's subsidy schemes are presently targeted at traditional fishermen.
According to Halarnkar, traditional fishermen continue to receive diesel subsidies and financial assistance for the purchase of fishing nets and other equipment under various government schemes.
However, on the issue of the VAT reimbursement sought by trawler owners, Halarnkar confirmed that the scheme is no longer in force.
"VAT subsidy was being given earlier, but it has been discontinued for the last four years," he said, indicating that there was no immediate proposal to revive the benefit.