MARGAO
Traditional fishermen from the Salcete coastal belt cried foul after news spread that four of the 14 outstation fishing vessels detained by the Fisheries Department escaped from the Mandovi River last night.
Angry fishermen wondered what the use was of their lending help and assistance to confiscate the fishing vessels if the department could not ensure that they remained in custody.
That’s not all. The fishermen pointed out that these four vessels had tonnes of sardines valued at several lakhs of rupees.
Colva-based fisherman Domingo Rodrigues said the Department owes an explanation to the traditional fishing community as to how the four vessels escaped when they were in its custody. “This is ridiculous. We were shocked and surprised that four out of the 14 fishing boats have escaped from the custody of the Fisheries Department. This is not acceptable. There ought to be an inquiry by the government,” he demanded.
Rodrigues claimed that the four detained vessels were carrying tonnes of sardines worth lakhs of rupees.
“First, fishermen from Colva and Benaulim alerted the department to illegal fishing activity close to Goa’s coast. Then we provided them with our speedboats to carry fisheries officials and police personnel to the outstation boats. After all this hard work by the fishermen, we have been told that four out of the 14 boats have escaped,” he said.
Rodrigues added that fishermen from Benaulim, Colva and Velsao had gone in hot pursuit of the fishing boats, assuming the department would come down heavily on the outside fishing boat owners -- but in vain.
