MARGAO
Asserting that the Centre will take a call on the ban imposed on fishing by LED lights only after conducting a scientific study, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala on Friday rang in good news for women engaged in fishing activity saying the Centre will consider bringing together women Self Help Groups under the market linkage to facilitate fish export, promising to provide technical support to take the concept forward.
The Union Minister also underscored the need to maintain Goa’s ecosystem, saying Goa is a beautiful place visited by domestic and international visitors.
Addressing fishing stakeholders, including exporters, fishermen and mechanized boat owners as part of the Sagar Parikrama programme, wherein a strong case was made out for lifting the ban on fishing with LED lights, the Union Minister said “since a case was made out for lifting on the ban citing a scientific study, the Centre will take a call on the issue also after a thorough scientific study”.
He said the Centre will take into cognizance the fishing practices at the national and international level, and carry out a scientific study before taking a call on fishing with LED lights.
The Union Minister’s stand assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the issue of fishing with LED lights is being closely monitored by the High Court. In fact, strict directions have gone to authorities, including the Fisheries Department and the Goa Police to crack a whip against vessels involved in LED fishing.
“Someone from the boat owners have called for a re-think on fishing by LED lights by citing a scientific study. I will also go for a scientific study on the issue before taking a decision and after checking the national and internal practices”, he said, adding “We have to maintain the ecosystem and take development forward. If LED fishing is a good technology, we will have to work out a scientific solution and move forward. We will think only after a scientific study”.
The Union Minister was impressed over the suggestion made by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas that women self Help groups can be organized for the export of fish. “I understand that while the men go to the sea to catch fish, the catch is then sold by the womenfolk in the markets. Women are involved in the marketing of fish. The Centre will certainly take steps to bring together small groups of women through a market linkage so that they can export the fish and get price realization”, he assured.
The Union Minister said distinction should be made between traditional fishermen and the mechanized boat owners. “I agree they form part of one family. We do not divide them, but we are for their unity for the development. They should both join hands for their growth and to take fisheries forward”, he said.
Saying many good suggestions have come from the fishing stakeholders during his visit to Goa, Rupala said the Centre as well as the State will look into the issue of infrastructure on jetty or new harbour, parking, marketing, fish storage facilities wherein small fishermen can hold their catch and sell it for a good price.
Saying that fishermen can avail benefits of various schemes with Krishi cards extending to the fishing community, the Union Minister requested Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar to call a meeting with the Lead Bank so that the fishermen can avail of institutional support with the Krishi cards.
He promised to consider the suggestion to provide subsidy to fishing vessels engaged in deep sea fishing.
Fisheries Minister Nilkhant Halarnkar, MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva attended the programme. Venzy submitted a memorandum on behalf of the Cutbona-based fishermen to build a training wall at the mouth of river Sal for smooth navigation.
