VASCO
Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) on Saturday hit out at the fisheries department, accusing it of failing to curb activities like bull trawling by Malpe fishing trawlers, LED light fishing and fishing ban on 5 kms in the territorial water during the previous season.
In a press note, the GRE stated that the last fishing season had been the worst since several decades as there had been blatant violation of the Goa Marine Fisheries Regulation Act 1982.
“The fisheries department in 2016 and the central government in 2017 had banned the use of Bull or LED light trawling in the territorial waters and Indian Exclusive Zone (EEZ), but still today more than 100 Karnataka trawlers are operating within the territorial water of the State and continue to use these banned destructive gears without the fear of law or government of Goa.”
“If this continues, there could be a law and order situation in the State and only the State government will be responsible for any untoward incident,” warned the GRE.
Demanding an increase in the fishing ban period to 90 days in the next fishing season as there was a drop in fish catch, GRE General Secretary Olencio Simoes also sought increase in fuel subsidy due to steep raise in fuel prices which had made it almost impossible to sustain the fishing business.
“I appeal to Fisheries Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues to immediately direct the fisheries department to strictly implement the law on banned gear, to stop Malpe boats and implement the 5-km fishing ban.”
“If the violation continues, it is certain that Goa, which is second state for export of fish, will head towards fish extinction and join the other countries like Norway, Denmark, Oman, New Zealand, Australia, etc. where fisheries had come to halt because of such destructive gears,” cautioned Simoes.
