Says no evidence that boats were involved in bull trawling
the goan I network
MARGAO
In fact, the Fisheries department wrote a letter to the Betul coastal police station on Monday, categorically stating that they cannot take custody of the two vessels since they were not seized by any authority or officials of the Fisheries department.
Moreover, the Fisheries department made it clear to the Betul coastal police station that there’s no evidence that the two vessels which were seized by the boat owners from Cutbona were involved in bull trawling.
Given the situation, the Betul coastal police have now asked the Mormugao police to take custody of the two vessels for investigations in the crime, wherein a complaint was lodged by a vessel owner for the seizure of his fishing vessel.
Betul Coastal Police station in-charge, PI Brutano Piexote told The Goan that the Betul coastal police station had written a letter to the Fisheries department to take custody of the two vessels seized by the boat owners operating from the Cutbona jetty, but the department had failed to take custody on grounds that the seizure was not effected by any authority.
PI Piexote said that since the Fisheries department has refused to take custody of the two vessels, the coastal police has deputed its personnel to guard the vessels at Cutbona till the Mormugao police takes possession of the vessels
on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, President of the Cutbona Boat Owners Union Savio D’Silva expressed shock and surprise that the police has registered case against the Cutbona boat owners for the seizure of the two vessels allegedly involved in bull trawling.
“When we received information that four vessels were allegedly involved in bull trawling, we immediately contacted the coastal police, who maintained that they cannot venture out in the sea. Left with no option, the boat owners ventured out and managed to seize two vessels, while the other two vessels escaped,” he said.
Replying to a question, Savio warned that the fishermen including the boat owners will not sit quite if the police arrest any of the boat owners from Cutbona jetty.
“We will call for an emergency meeting with the Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott and chalk out the future course of action if the police mete out harassment to the boat owners trying to prevent bull trawling in the sea,”
Savio said.
