PANAJI
Last week’s protest that turned violent was according to fishermen for a genuine reason and they have the numbers to back them. Over exploitation and massive modernisation in techniques are the major reasons. The reduction in catch is clear to see and a ban on LED lights will help save the natural resource for the future they feel.
According to estimates released by the fisheries department, the State had registered a total of 87,984 tonnes of marine production for the year 2013. This figure saw a massive jump in 2014 with a total of 1,28,107 tonnes of fish being caught. What is now baffling is the drastic decline the year after. A report by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has, however, revealed Goa’s share of marine production in 2015 dropped to 68,561 tonnes.
The rise and fall in fish catch is evident at the ground level too. Sitakant Parab, president of the All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Union, who himself has a couple of boats has admitted fish catch has reduced drastically leaving the entire market in a supply-demand game.
“There have been certain species like the Pink Perch which we would generally get in huge quantities. Today, however, it has become uneconomical for us because we get only a few kilos to sell,” he said.
Ribbon fish too has suffered a similar fate. The months of September to December used to fetch tonnes of the species, until last year. The department saw 1,107 tonnes being netted in 2013 but only 376 tonnes in 2014. Three years ago, sardine collection ranged between 23,000 and 30,000 tonnes. In 2014, a whopping 80,849 tonnes were collected.
The main issue fishermen had when they decided to protest last week, was to highlight this declining trend in fish availability. Menino Afonso, president of the Mandovi Fishing Association targetted big boats using LED lights to catch fish.
“These boats use high power LED lights that run on generators both underneath and above the water. This draws all the fish, both grown and juvenile, to the surface when the net is laid and they are caught,” said Afonso.
Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) who led the protest for the over 2,500 family members that depend on the industry, forced the government to take action. The department on their part issued a notification that banned LED fishing as well as bull trawling. Shamila Monteiro, fisheries director reasserted the department’s aim to keep the natural resource available for future generations.
Some of the other demands of the fishermen include longer fishing bans of up to six months and banning high speed engines. “Today what is happening is over-exploitation of resources and while modernisation is important there is need to help proliferate the resource. Currently there is little or no control on restrictions,” said Parab.
