Fishermen catch big: Garbage, not fish

THE GOAN NETWORK | AUGUST 31, 2020, 02:43 AM IST
Fishermen catch big: Garbage, not fish

More plastic and mixed waste than fish has turned out to be the normal catch traditional fishermen from Salcete have been netting over the last few days.

The traditional fishing gears (rampons) have netted tonnes of waste and a few baskets of fish in the new fishing season, more so along the Cavelossim-Varca-Benaulim coastal stretch.

If tonnes of mixed waste was washed ashore along the Fatrade-Varca beach stretch a fortnight ago, fishermen engaged in fishing with traditional gears have only complained of waste being the major catch than fish over the last few days.

A traditional fishermen from Benaulim, Pele Fernandes told The Goan that never in his life time had he seen the amount of waste, mostly plastic, being netted by the traditional fishing gears. “Our fishing gears net tonnes of waste and only a few baskets of fish, so much so that that those involved in pulling the rampons have to be content with little amount of fish. We cannot even send the fish to the markets for sale as the catch is not enough for our self-consumption,” Pele added.

Saying the traditional fishermen are indeed facing the garbage menace this season, Pele has urged the concerned authorities to conduct a study on the waste problem. “It’s not that the traditional fishing gears were not netting the waste in the past. But, the waste comprised of damaged nets, ropes and even sticks etc. This is the first time that huge quantities of plastic waste has found its way in the sea,” he added.

Another fisherman from Benaulim pointed out that the government should at least ensure that the waste netted by the fishing nets and left on the beach should be carted away from the beach cleaning contractors. “If the waste washed ashore by the waves or the one netted in by the fishing nets is not lifted away, it may be washed back in the sea,” he feared.

A Colva-based fisherman Domingo Rodrigues echoed similar sentiments. He said his traditional fishing rampon had netted tonnes of waste off the Varca-Fatrade coast last week. “Fishermen used to experience the waste problem every year at the beginning of the season, but the situation is serious this time round," Domingo said.

When The Goan contacted Managing Director of Goa Waste Management Corporation, Levinson Martins to shed light on the waste menace plaguing the fishermen community, he said the plastic and other waste might have found its way in the sea from the rivers during the monsoons. “This could be the result of reckless disposal of dry and other waste in the water bodies and rivulets, which later finds its way in the sea during the monsoons,” Martins said. “Waste normally enters the sea from the land via the rivers during the monsoons. And, the waste is being washed ashore by the currents during this part of the season’, he added.


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