Issue notification in two days or we protest: fishermen
the goan I network
MARGAO
Representatives of the traditional fishermen, including Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott President Agnelo Rodrigues, called on the Fisheries Minister at his Navelim residence and made a forceful plea to immediately ban LED lights and save marine resources from destruction.
Both Avertano and Fisheries Director Dr Shamila Monteiro promised the agitating fishermen that the proposal to ban the LED lights has gone to the law department, adding that a notification will be issued no sooner the proposal gets the green signal.
The Minister said it should not take more than two days for the government to issue the notification.
When the media drew his attention to the demand of the traditional fishermen to extend the ban period on grounds of fish shortage, Avertano said the government is open to extending the ban period from 61 days. “I agree that one way to increase fish production is by extending the ban on fishing,” he said.
Fisheries Director Shamila Monteiro said the department intends to intensify night patrolling to keep in check night fishing.
Traditional fishermen from Betul Pandari Kerkar said this government has brought traditional fishermen to the state of begging and added they were left with no choice but to block the mouth of river Sal in the near future.
GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues said the department of fisheries should check the size of the fishing vessels, even as he blamed the Fisheries Director for not initiating action against the illegalities.
“All the traditional fishermen will descend at the Fisheries Department and start begging to highlight the government’s indifference to fishing with LED lights,”
Agnelo said.
