MARGAO
Perhaps for the first time in recent times, fish transportation from South Goa’s major fishing hub Cutbona jetty came to a screeching halt on Wednesday after the Fisheries department with help of the police force barred fish traders sans registration from taking the catch out.
The activity, however, resumed around noon after a delegation of fishing associations jointly called on the Fisheries Director Shamila Monteiro, wherein it was decided to keep the decision on hold for 10 days. It was also agreed upon by the boat owners' associations and the Fisheries Director to call a joint meeting on October 25 to discuss all outstanding issues concerning the registration of fish agents and payment of fees.
Tension rent the air at the Cutbona jetty after the Goa Police was deployed at the entrance to bar agents operating sans registration from transportation. The police force from Cuncolim and Colva stations were requisitioned at the jetty to enforce the Fisheries department order to shut the jetty for agents operating sans registration and payment of fees amounting to Rs two lakh.
Resultantly, the unloading of fish from the vessels came to a halt as the agents could not load the fish given the order. While the fish catch remained in the boats, loaded vehicles could not move out for some time.
Boat owners oppose move to consider them as fish traders
MARGAO:
The boat owners held an emergency meeting at the union office and unitedly opposed any move to consider them as fish traders.
President of the Cutbona Fisheries Society Vinay Tari slammed the decision of the Fisheries department to club the boat owners taking their catch from the jetty to the market for sale as fish traders. “Fishing comes under the primary activity like agriculture. Where will the fishermen sell their catch if not in the markets?” Vinay questioned, pointing out that the move to club boat owners as fish traders is unacceptable.
The boat owners also questioned the decision to levy a fee of Rs two lakh on the agents operating at the jetty, saying the hefty fee will drive away new entrants in the trade.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva, who was invited by the boat owners, said the Fisheries department took the drastic step of deploying police at the jetty when the boat owners along with him and Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas put a host of suggestions for consideration of the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday.
After the meeting, a delegation of the boat owners headed to Panaji where they along with representatives of other boat owners' associations held a meeting with the Fisheries Director Shamila Monteiro, wherein it was decided to keep the decision to bar the unregistered fish traders from the jetty on hold till the meeting scheduled on October 25.
