MARGAO
The commencement of the new fishing season on Saturday turned out to be a damp squib for fishermen operating from the Cutbona fishing jetty, as hostile navigation conditions at the mouth of the River Sal, coupled with rough weather and manpower shortages, prevented fishing vessels from venturing into the Arabian Sea.
Despite nearly 15 to 20 mechanised fishing vessels being fully prepared to embark on the first voyage of the season following the annual fishing ban, not a single boat sailed out after boat owners assessed the dangerous conditions at the River Sal mouth.
According to Secretary of the Cutbona Boat Owners Federation, Patrick Silva, the primary concern among vessel owners was the safety of the boats and crew, particularly their ability to return safely to the jetty once they ventured out to sea.
"Some of the boats were ready to venture out for fishing, but after assessing the situation, the owners realised that the hostile conditions at the River Sal mouth would make it extremely difficult for the vessels to return safely. As a result, not a single fishing vessel operating from the Cutbona fishing jetty ventured into the sea on the opening day of the new fishing season," Silva said.
He pointed out that the recurring problem at the River Sal mouth continues to severely affect the livelihoods of hundreds of fishermen and boat owners in the region.
"We only hope that the present situation opens the eyes of the government and prompts it to finally take up the long-pending construction of a training wall at the River Sal mouth. The issue has remained unresolved for years despite repeated representations from the fishing community," Silva added.
Chairman of the Cutbona Fisheries Society, Savio D'Silva, echoed similar concerns, saying the fishing community was confronted with multiple challenges on the very first day of the season.
"Several fishing vessels were unable to commence operations due to a shortage of manpower, as many workers have still not reported back after the monsoon fishing ban. Even those who were prepared to sail had to abandon their plans because of the hazardous navigation conditions at the River Sal mouth," he said.
D'Silva warned that the difficulties are likely to persist even if weather conditions improve over the coming days.
"The sea conditions may become favourable, but unless the situation at the River Sal mouth improves, fishing vessels operating from Cutbona will continue to face serious difficulties in entering and exiting the harbour. The rough and shallow conditions at the river mouth pose a significant safety risk to boats and their crew," he observed.
The delayed start to the fishing season has come as a setback for the fishing community, which was looking forward to resuming operations after the annual monsoon fishing ban. Boat owners fear that every day lost at the beginning of the season translates into financial losses for fishermen, crew members and allied businesses dependent on the fishing industry.
The latest disruption has once again brought into sharp focus the long-standing demand of the Cutbona fishing community for permanent measures to improve navigational safety at the River Sal mouth, a problem that has repeatedly affected fishing operations over the years.
