PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has directed the Fisheries Department, the Coastal Police and the Coast Guard to inspect all fishing vessels for gear and equipment that can be used for bull or pair trawling or LED lights or use LED or other artificial lights to attract and catch fish before they are allowed to venture into the sea after the fishing ban is lifted.
Noting that a ban on LED fishing and bull trawling was already in place the High Court said that “the only question that arises is… the proper implementation of this ban.”
The Goa Foundation and Joaquim Reginaldo Mendes who had filed petitions before the Court complaining that despite the ban, the use of LED lights, artificial lights and fish attractors, is quite rampant. They also allege that bull or pair trawling is quite rampant.
“The State authorities and the ICG who are enjoining to implement the ban are not doing their duties, as a result, these banned activities continue rampantly,” the petitioners alleged.
“We direct the State to involve the Coastal Police at the stage of inspection. The Coastal Police should also thoroughly inspect the vessels and if they find that the vessels are equipped with gear to indulge in Bull/Pair trawling or are using LED or other artificial lights, the Coastal Police should take the necessary action as is permissible under the law to prevent such vessels from going to the sea with such equipment/gear. The same also applies to the officials of the Fisheries Department who should take necessary action to prevent the vessels from going to the sea with gear and equipment that can be used for Bull or Pair trawling or LED lights or use LED or other artificial lights to attract and catch fish, etc. from the sea,” the High Court bench of Justices M S Sonak and R N Laddha ruled.
When it came to use of generators on board, the respondents told the court that generators are necessary for activities like refrigeration, lighting, etc.
“The officials of the various departments, the Coast Guard, Coastal Police must seriously consider whether such generators are necessary on the vessels when they go out at sea. At this stage, we think that the statements made by the vessel owners ought not to be accepted at the face value without any further investigation. The authorities who are enjoined to enforce the ban must at least look into the apprehension now expressed by the Petitioners and thereafter take a call on the issue,” the High Court said.
