MARGAO
Dead Seagulls washed ashore at Benaulim and the carcass of a dolphin lying on the adjoining world famous Colva beach on Friday have brought to the fore serious questions on the reasons behind the mortality.
If the people spotted a carcass of a dolphin on the Colva beach on Friday morning, Benaulim-based fishermen came across dead seagulls lying on the shore in the evening.
While officials have conducted post mortem examination on the carcass of the decomposed dolphin, local Benaulim fishermen have called upon the authorities to take serious note of the mortality of the seagulls.
Benaulim-based fisherman Pele Fernandes said he has noticed around 30 seagulls found dead on the Benaulim beach on Friday noon. “This is the first time we have come across death of so many seagulls. They were all washed ashore. We do not know whether many more seagulls will be washed ashore later tonight,” he said.
Demanding that the government take serious note of the episode, Pele said, “We do not know whether the discharge of oil in the high seas is the cause behind the death of the seagulls. The people should know what has caused the death of the seagulls.”
Saying that the fishermen as well as citizens had in the recent past demanded equipping the coastal police and other authorities with speed boats and intercept ships discharging oil in the sea, Pele said the government should equip the agencies to ensure that the violators do not go scot-free.
At the Colva beach, the carcass of the dolphin was disposed of by burying the same on the shore, but not before conducting a post mortem examination.
Incidentally, Benaulim fishermen had couple of days ago spotted carcass of dolphin floating in the sea.
