PANAJI
Traditional fishermen (ramponkars) in Caranzalem were on Sunday stunned to find their fishing grounds on the beach intruded by water sports crafts and raised a hue and cry.
The operators of these water sports crafts on the beach were confronted by the fishermen who said that the Caranzalem beach has not been demarcated for water sports and their operations are “illegal”.
“They do not have any permission from the Captain of Ports or any other authority,” one of the fishermen said.
The issue was escalated to the level of the police, who were intimated over the phone by the ‘Ramponkars’.
Panaji police said the matter is being inquired into and other authorities like the Captain of Ports and tourism department may have to be consulted before taking a call on whether to register an FIR or not.
Caranzalem beach has long been the fiefdom of the traditional fishing community plying their trade using the ‘rampon’ and July to October is their peak season, often netting bumper catches of a variety of high-value species like mackerel, kingfish, white and black pomfrets, baby shark and shrimp.
