MARGAO
A stormy meeting of the Cutbona Boat Owners Union on Thursday discussed the contentious issue of fishing with LED lights, before deciding to seek the opinion of the Director of Fisheries on the legality of the fishing technique along with a host of other issues, including bull trawling, fishing in shallow waters and vessels using engine motors beyond the permissible horse power.
The meeting saw around 136 pursein vessel owners submitting an application to the Union president, Savio D’Silva, supporting fishing with LED lights. On the other hand, Savio said that the small fishing vessels, which have been opposing fishing with LED lights, have been asked to submit their say in writing on the contentious issue.
When Union president, Savio D’Silva, and vice-President, Roosevelt Alemao, contended that the issue over fishing with LED lights should be placed before the Fisheries Director for opinion, boat owner, Elvis Gomes, and others sought to know why only the Union is seeking the opinion of the Fisheries Director on the LED issue, when issues such as bull trawling, fishing in shallow waters and using engines beyond the permissible horse power have never been brought to the notice of the Fisheries Director.
Elvis later submitted a list of 136 vessels signed by the owners, who expressed their support for fishing with LED lights. Elvis also mooted a suggestion that the owners of pursein vessels will form a separate association which will operate under the banner of the existing Union. Elvis told the media that the Fisheries Director should be asked to provide legal opinion on all issues, including fishing with LED lights, bull trawling, net mesh size and fishing in shallow waters.
After the meeting, Savio told the media that he would write to the Fisheries Director to take a call on what is legal and illegal on the LED lights issue, besides issues such as bull trawling, etc.
“Let the Fisheries Director take a call on the issue. My letter will also highlight the illegalities at Cutbona fishing jetty. I have asked the fishing vessel owners to prepare a list of owners opposing LED lights. Both the applications will be forwarded to the Fisheries director for action,” he said, adding, “let the Fisheries Director take a call on whether fishing with LED lights and bull trawling is legal or not.”
On the suggestion mooted by Elvis Gomes to form an Association of pursein vessel owners, Savio asserted that there cannot be two Unions at one jetty, saying that he will get the Velim Panchayat involved in resolving the issue.
“I will object to another Association or Union at Cutbona jetty,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, a strong posse of policemen was deployed at Cutbona jetty to avert a law and order problem.
